The current state-of-the-art dye loading process for modern dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), essentially unchanged for the last 24 years, entails dip-coating nanoporous TiO2 photoelectrodes in a concentrated solution of dye for an average of 16 hours. This process constitutes up to 80% of the fabrication time, leads to significant dye waste, and necessitates the use of organic solvents. A promising gas-phase deposition technique, coined Functionalized Carboxylate Deposition (FCD), was used to rapidly deposit a self-assembled monolayer of targeted α-carbon modified carboxylic acid containing dye molecules on TiO2 photoelectrodes. The FCD process successfully reduced the dye loading time by 98% (i.e., 15-20 min compared to an average of 16 hr). Moreover, the FCD-sensitized photoelectrodes produced DSCs with equivalent or higher efficiencies than dip-coating for the dyes used (both in this study and by other researchers). The performance of FCD dye sensitization in this study indicates its potential applicability as a foundational technology for rapid fabrication of efficient DSCs.
This paper presents a model for charge transport in dye sensitized solar cells based on the physics of electron capture, electron emission, oxidation, and reduction processes mediated by deep interfacial trap states at TiO2/dye/electrolyte interfaces. This model suggests that electron back injection from the conduction band of TiO2 to electrolyte is due to trapping of conduction band electrons by deep states followed by reduction processes at the interface. The simulated dark IV, illuminated IV, and quantum efficiency characteristics of dye sensitized solar cells based on this model are consistent with experimental results.
A new type of counter-electrode based on platinum (Pt) nanoclusters has been introduced for semi-transparent dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This electrode is fabricated using a drop coating method where Pt nanoparticles dispersed in an acetone solvent are applied on a heated indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrate. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) images suggest that the Pt nanoparticles form a nanoporous structure with a large surface area while the distribution of Pt appears to be uniform on the surface of the ITO layer. UV/visible/near infrared transmittance spectroscopy showed that the Pt/ITO/glass electrode is highly transparent with a maximum transparency of 80% at 550 nm.
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