Performance improvement of a tin(II) dioxide-modified electrode for the dye-sensitized solar cell by the addition of zinc(II) oxide and niobium(V) oxide

Using the electrodes of metal oxide mixture, SnO2 + ZnO and SnO2 + ZnO + Nb2O5, improved the performance of a SnO2-modified electrode for the dye-sensitized solar cell. The N3-dye sensitized solar cell with SnO2 electrode showed moderately high photocurrent density (Jsc) and that with ZnO electrode showed fine photovoltage (Voc). The solar cell with SnO2 + ZnO electrode showed improved Jsc and Voc. The solar cell with SnO2 + ZnO + Nb2O5 electrode performed even better. SnO2 + ZnO and SnO2 + ZnO + Nb2O5 electrodes highly adsorbed N3. The effects of the addition of ZnO and Nb2O5 were discussed in terms of BET measurements showing their relatively large specific surface areas and also relatively rough electrode surfaces observed by FE-SEM.