Development of a new solid-state absorber material for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)

Abstract

In contrast to the conventional DSSC systems, where the dye molecules are used as light harvesting material, here a solid-state absorber was used as a sensitizer in conjunction with the dye. The materials like ZnO and Al 2 O 3 : C, which will show optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) upon irradiation were used as extremely thin absorber layers. This novel architecture allows broader spectral absorption, an increase in photocurrent, and hence, an improved efficiency because of the mobility of the trapped electrons in the absorber material after irradiation, to the TiO 2 conduction band. Nanocrystalline mesoporous TiO 2 photoanodes were fabricated using these solid-state absorber materials and after irradiation, a few number of samples were co-sensitized with N719 dye. On comparing both the dye loaded photoanodes (ZnO/TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 : C/TiO 2 ), it can be concluded from the present studies that, the Al 2 O 3 : C is superior to ZnO under photon irradiation. Al 2 O 3 : C is more sensitive to photon irradiation than ZnO and hence there can be more trap centres produced in Al 2 O 3 : C.

Rose bengal-sensitized nanocrystalline ceria photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell application

“…Nair et al [13] studied the effect of TiO 2 nanotube length and lateral tubular spacing on photovoltaic properties of back illuminated DSSCs. Cyriac et al [14] developed a new type of solid-state absorber material for DSSCs. Rajkumar et al [15] developed hybrid nanocrystalline TiO 2 solar cell with copper phthalocyanine as sensitizer and hole transporter.…”