The Application of ZnO Nanoparticles Containing Polyoxometalates in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) containing H 3 PW 12 O 40 polyoxometalates (POMs) were firstly synthesized by a simple solvothermal route. The photoanodes of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were assembled with the as‐prepared ZnO powder containing H 3 PW 12 O 40 . A comparative experiment in the absence of POMs was carried out to investigate the influence of H 3 PW 12 O 40 . Furthermore, the effects of other Keggin‐type POMs including W series, Mo series, and the potassium salt K 3 PW 12 O 40 were studied and different concentrations of H 3 PW 12 O 40 were utilized to investigate the impact on the performance of DSSCs on the basis of the above research. The results demonstrate that the W‐containing POM series H x MW 12 O 40 (M = P, x = 3; M = Si, Ge, x = 4) significantly enhances the performance of DSSCs by increasing electronic lifetimes and reducing dark currents. The overall solar‐to‐electric energy conversion efficiency reached a maximum of 2.70 % in the presence of H 3 PW 12 O 40 , which is an improvement of 49.2 % compared to the efficiency without H 3 PW 12 O 40 . A suitable H 3 PW 12 O 40 concentration is crucial.