Improved performance of D149 dye-sensitized ZnO-based solar cell under solvents activation effect

Abstract

The various solvents (2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol, 1-propanol, Ethanol and Acetonitrile) effect to improve performance of D149 dye-sensitized ZnO-based solar cells predicted using a quantum mechanical model are investigated. Incorporation of solvents has low transition energies that are found to enhance the current densities for improving the solar cell efficiency. The solar cell of 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol has showed the best efficiency, 1.662%. The achieved fill-factor (FF) of Ethanol inclusion has displayed slightly lower efficiency than others, wherein that of higher current density has revealed lower FF. Furthermore, the open circuit voltage (Voc) is reduced with a decreased current, while the obtained gain, Jsc could compensate the loss of Voc, which leading to a maximum efficiency for solar energy conversion.