Nanostructured Zinc Stannate as Semiconductor Working Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Zinc stannate (Zn2SnO4) particles with 27-nm size were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment. Nanoporous Zn2SnO4 thin films were prepared on conducting glass substrates and used as working electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, DSSC. Their behavior was compared with standard TiO2 cells, using (TBA)2-cis-Ru(Hdcbpy)2(NCS)2 (known as N719) as a dye and an electrolyte containing 0.7 M LiI and 0.05 M I2 in 3-methoxypropionitrile. Under the same working conditions, Zn2SnO4 DSSC showed higher open-circuit potential, but their overall efficiency was lower due to their lower incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency. The properties of electrons in DSSC have been studied by measuring their transport time and lifetime by photocurrent and photovoltage transient measurements, respectively. The electron diffusion length is similar in both oxides, demonstrating the possible use of Zn2SnO4 as an electron collector in DSSC applications. On the other hand, photoinduced absorption measurements reveal problems in the electron injection from the dye to Zn2SnO4, owing to the higher position of its conduction band, in agreement with the higher open-circuit potential measured. Zinc stannate will be an interesting mesoporous material for DSSC, provided the use of dyes with a higher position of the LUMO compared to that of N719, as it will permit attaining higher photovoltages without affecting the photocurrent.