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Dye-sensitized solid-state solar cells (DSSC) based on n-type ZnO and p-type CuSCN have been fabricated with highest recorded power conversion efficiency. The working electrode of the cell is composed of D149 dye-coated ZnO-based interconnected nanoparticulate (20 nm) mesoporous layer with ZnO-based dense layer which was prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates. CuSCN deposition was carried out according to the previously reported procedure which ensures enhanced p-type conductivity of CuSCN. The surface morphologies of the ZnO dense layer, ZnO porous layer and CuSCN layer have been visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cells were fabricated with the configuration of FTO/ZnO dense layer/ZnO porous layer/D149/CuSCN/Graphite/Cr-coated FTO. Then the cells were characterized using I-V data as functions of the dense layer resistance (which is proportional to the thickness of the dense layer) and the porous layer thicknesses. The optimum dense layer is found to have 1500 Ω/□ sheet resistance. The cell with porous layer thickness of 9 μm at this dense layer resistance shows the maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.28%. The solar cell parameters of this optimized cell are an open circuit voltage of 0.55 V, a fill factor of 0.51 and a short-circuit current density of 8.2 mA cm^-2.

Investigation of the behavior of additive Yb₂O₃ in the anode during electrolysis is an important method for improving the corrosion resistance of the grain boundary to high-temperature molten salt electrolyte. The author examined the Yb content of cermets after both sintering and electrolysis and the experimental results showed that a dense layer of NiFe₂O₄-NiAl₂O₄-FeAl₂O₄ ceramic favorably formed on the surface of the anodes only if the electrolysis time was greater than 10 hours. Moreover, NiFe₂O₄, NiA₂O₄ and FeAl₂O₄ were produced and dissolved continuously as a result of the chemical and electrochemical corrosion that took place after the formation of the dense layer. As the electrolysis time was extended, Yb₂O₃ or YbFeO₃ gradually dissolved into the electrolyte and primary aluminum as an impurity substance.