Electron transport and back reaction in electrochemically self-assembled nanoporous ZnO/dye hybrid films

Nanoporous ZnO/eosinY films prepared by electrochemical self-assembly have already shown promising characteristics for use in dye-sensitized solar cells, such as ease of preparation (no need for high-temperature sintering) and high dye loading. In this study, electron transport and back reaction in these films have been investigated by intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS). In contrast to sintered colloidal ZnO films, electrodeposited ZnO/eosinY films exhibit electron transit times (tau(D)) that are much shorter than electron lifetimes (tau(n)), leading to very efficient electron collection. The shorter transit times in the electrodeposited layers are due in part to the fact that the films are very thin, but in addition the electron diffusion coefficients are higher than in sintered colloidal ZnO films. Although the unusually high dye concentration in the electrochemically self-assembled film allows efficient light harvesting, it was found that not all dye molecules inject electrons. The low injection efficiency is probably due to the formation of dye aggregates.