A new method to make dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells at room temperature

Ceramic Nano-particle/Substrate Interface Bonding Formation Derived from Dynamic Mechanical Force at Room Temperature: HRTEM Examination

“…A binder-free paste consisting of TiO 2 nano-powder (P25, Degussa, Dusseldorf, Germany) of 25 nm in diameter and ethanol was prepared according to literature (Ref 15,16). It was then applied onto a substrate surface by a screen printing (Ref 15,16).…”

“…It was then applied onto a substrate surface by a screen printing (Ref 15,16). In order to facilitate the preparation of very thin coating for the observation through HRTEM, F-doped SnO 2 -glass substrate (FTO, TEC-15, LOF, Ohio, USA) was used instead of a plastic-based substrate.…”

“…In this case, the bonding at the particle/particle interfaces and coating/substrate interfaces needs to be enhanced by other methods, such as mechanical pressing and dynamic pressure as in room temperature cold spraying . Investigations have shown that the DSC efficiencies can be significantly increased by increasing pressure during mechanical pressing (Ref [12][13][14][15][16]) and increasing particle velocity and thereby impact pressure during room temperature cold spraying ). An increased electron transport coefficient can be observed after high pressure pressing (Ref 14,20), which is attributed to the improved particle/particle connection .…”

Preparation of porous nanoparticle TiO2 films for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

“…The conducting substrate usually is made of a transparent conductive glass, which limit DSSCs practical applications because of its weight, frangibility and high cost. DSSCs based on flexible substrate have attracted wide interest due to its merits, such as light weight, good flexibility, impact-proof, lower cost [3,4]. Besides, their shapes or surfaces can be devised and constructed, the technique of large-scale continuous production and rapid coating can be used, which further decrease the production cost [3][4][5][6].…”

“…DSSCs based on flexible substrate have attracted wide interest due to its merits, such as light weight, good flexibility, impact-proof, lower cost [3,4]. Besides, their shapes or surfaces can be devised and constructed, the technique of large-scale continuous production and rapid coating can be used, which further decrease the production cost [3][4][5][6]. The conventional method for obtaining an efficient electrode materials is the high-temperature calcination of nanocrystalline semiconductor particles.…”