Analysis of AC Response and Charge Transport Mechanisms in Double-Layer and Triple-Layer Solar Cell Architectures
Abstract
This work investigates the effect of the ruthenium dye (Ru -dye) layer on electrical properties of solar cells based on the nc-TiO₂ semiconducting polymer heterojunction. In TLSCs (P3HT/Ru-dye/nc-TiO2 solar cells), when the measurement frequency is decreased from 10 Hz to 0.1 Hz, a three-orders-of-magnitude increase in capacitance is observed. It is attributed to the dominance of diffusion capacitance the meauremnts , which indicates enhanced charge carrier dynamics and contribut to better performance and improved efficiency. In contrast, in the same frequency range, DLSCs (P3HT/nc-TiO2 solar cells) exhibits a one-order-of-magnitude increase in capacitance, ascribed to the dominance of depletion capacitance. Thus, DLSCs likely suffer from low carrier injection, high recombination losses, and ultimately lower efficiency. The Cole-Cole curves are plotted for applied voltages ranging from 0 to 1.5 V and frequencies from 20 Hz to 1 MHz. At zero bias, while there is evidence of a relaxation process in TLSCs, this is not as clear for DLSCs. This is realted to the effect of the Ru-dye inserted between the P3HT and nc-TiO₂ layers (TLSC), which facilitates better charge carrier generation and transport.
Downloads
References
L. Bhattacharya, and M. Caspary, “Factors influencing charge transport at perovskite–charge transport layer interfaces: current strategies, challenges, and perspectives based on first-principles studies,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys; 57, 412001 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ad4dae
H. Al-Dmour, and D.M Taylor, “Effect of properties of NC-TiO2 grains on the performance of organic/inorganic solar cells,” JOR, 19, 587-596 (2023). https://doi.org/10.15251/JOR.2023.195.587
N. Dey, M. Reza, A. Ghosh, H, Al-Dmour, et al., “Optimization of Sr3NCl3-based perovskite solar cell performance through the comparison of different electron and hole transport layers,” J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 196, 112386 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2024.112386
N. Juneja, et al., “Sb2S3 solar cells with a cost-effective and dopant-free fluorene-based enamine as a hole transport material,” Sustain Energ Fuels, 6, 3220 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1039/d2se00356b
H. Al Dmour, and D. Taylor, “Small-signal response of nanocrystalline-titanium dioxide/poly(3-hexylthiophene) heterojunction solar cells,” Thin solid Film, 519(22), 8135-8138 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf2011.06.009
Z. Wang, C. Gong, C. Zhang, C. Zhao, T.-S. Su, H. Li, and H. Zhang, “Recent Advances in Interfacial Engineering for High-Efficiency Perovskite Photovoltaics,” DeCarbon, 1-47 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.decarb.2025.100107
N. Saleh, S. Al-Trawneh, H. Al-Dmour, et al., “Effect of Molecular-Level Insulation on the Performance of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell: Fluorescence Studies in Solid State,” J. Fluoresc. 25, 59–68 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-014-1479-8
S.M. Sze, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, 2nd edition, (Wiley-Interscience, 1981).
E.H. Nicollian, and J.R. Brews, MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Physics and Technology, (Wiley Interscience, Wiley Classics Library edition, 1981)
M. Madanat, A. Al-Tabbakh, M. Alsa'eed, H. Al-Dmour, and M. Mousa, “Application of Murphy – Good Plot Parameters Extraction Method on Electron Emission from Carbon Fibers,” Ultramicroscopy, 234, 113479 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2022.113479
H. Zhou, M. Aftabuzzaman, M. Masud, S. Kang, and H.K. Key, “Materials and Fabrication Strategies for High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Comprehensive Comparison and Perspective,” ACS Energy Letters, 10(2), 881-895 (2025). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c03579
N. Lal Dey, M. Reza, Av. Ghosh, H. Al-Dmour, et al., “Optimization of Sr3NCl3-based perovskite solar cell performance through the comparison of different electron and hole transport layers,” J, Fluoresc, 25, 59–68 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-014-1479-8
N.L. Dey, Md.S. Reza, A. Ghosh, H. Al-Dmour, M. Moumita, Md.S. Reza, S. Sultana, et al., “Optimization of Sr3NCl3-based perovskite solar cell performance through the comparison of different electron and hole transport layers,” J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 96, 112386 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2024.112386
H. Al Dmour, “Capacitance response of solar cells based on amorphous Titanium dioxide (A-TiO2) semiconducting heterojunctions,”AIMS Mater. Sci, 8(2), 261-270 (2021). https://doi.org/0.3934/matersci.2021017
Copyright (c) 2025 Hmoud Al Dmour
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
