Improved photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells using laser patterned F-doped SnO₂ thin films

We modified the surfaces of F-doped SnO2 thin films using laser patterning to improve the photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells. To do so, we varied the laser power density and the distance between laser-patterned lines. First, we investigated three power densities. Higher densities led to higher sheet resistances owing to increases in surface roughnesses. The lowest power density increased surface roughness without electrical degradation. Next, we explored three line spacings at a fixed power density. The films with the narrowest spacing exhibited the highest power conversion efficiency (∼7.00%), the highest short-circuit photocurrent density (16.28 mA/cm²), and a good fill factor (58.82%).