New layer-by-layer Nb 2 O 5 –TiO 2 film as an effective underlayer in dye-sensitised solar cells

Highly efficient all-inorganic TiO 2 –Nb 2 O 5 underlayers for dye-sensitised solar cell applications were produced by the layer-by-layer technique (LbL). TiO 2 and Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles were prepared by the sol–gel method under acidic and alkaline conditions, respectively. The LbL films exhibited a very compact and homogeneous surface, as shown in FESEM and AFM images, which ensured a physical barrier between the electrolyte and the FTO surface, decreasing the dark current at this interface. Moreover, the rough film surface improved the physical interaction between the mesoporous TiO 2 layer and the conductive substrate. The Ti( iv )/Nb( v ) molar ratio in the films was 1.6, as determined by XPS, and it is controlled by the pH employed during the deposition process. The relative concentration of nanoparticles in the film plays a major role in its electronic properties: a higher TiO 2 concentration allows an efficient transport of photoinjected electrons. Additionally, the presence of Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles imposes an electronic barrier for charge transfer from the FTO to the electrolyte, as shown by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Thus, all the DSC photoelectrochemical parameters increased, leading to an impressive improvement in the overall conversion efficiency.