Enhancing the performance of transparent conductive oxide-less back contact dye-sensitized solar cells by facile diffusion of cobalt species through TiO₂nanopores

Abstract

TCO-less DSSC using cobalt electrolyte in a novel device structure is proposed. Dye surface passivation of TiO2 nanoparticle (TN) spacer boosts bulky Co3+ ion diffusion. Dramatic enhancement in DSSC performance for dye surface passivated TN spacer.

Optimization of Device Parameters for Back‐Contact Transparent Conductive Oxide–Less Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Fabrication

“…The electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) measurement was performed following our previous article. [ 23 ]…”

Boosting the Efficiency of Low-Cost T-C-O-Less Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Employing Nanoparticle Spacers and Cobalt Complex Redox Shuttle

“…The molecular composition of Co­(bpy) 2+/3+ complexes and sensitizing dyes YD2-o-C8 and Y123 is presented in Figure . Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis was carried out following the previously published article . The corrosion study of the SS-mesh and Ti-sputtered SS-mesh was carried out employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), JEOL, JCM6000, Japan.…”

“…28 In our T-C-O-less B-C-DSC structure, usually, a porous polymer sheet (a PTFE film with 35 μm thickness) is utilized as a spacer to soak the electrolyte which is very thick, leading to limited diffusion of (Co 2+/3+ ) complexes. 29 In this present work, we are utilizing different nanoparticles of TiO 2 and ZrO 2 films with their relatively much thinner layer employed as a spacer with different particle sizes to enhance the diffusion of (Co 2+/3+ ) complexes. A small optical absorption by (Co 2+/3+ ) complexes in the region from 330 to 430 nm motivated us to utilize these as a redox mediator.…”

“…employed mesoporous titania beads to produce a large surface area along with high porosity and enhanced scattering properties . In our T-C-O-less B-C-DSC structure, usually, a porous polymer sheet (a PTFE film with 35 μm thickness) is utilized as a spacer to soak the electrolyte which is very thick, leading to limited diffusion of (Co 2+/3+ ) complexes . In this present work, we are utilizing different nanoparticles of TiO 2 and ZrO 2 films with their relatively much thinner layer employed as a spacer with different particle sizes to enhance the diffusion of (Co 2+/3+ ) complexes.…”

Synthesis and Photophysical Characterization of Unsymmetrical Squaraine Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Utilizing Cobalt Electrolytes

“…In this context, one electron redox shuttles based on metal–organic Co­(II)/Co­(III) complexes have emerged as an obvious choice due to their simpler outer sphere one electron transfer kinetics and easy dye regeneration process, reducing the correlated loss of open-circuit voltage . Unlike iodine-based electrolytes, cobalt electrolytes bear positive surface charge exhibiting an obvious attractive interaction with the negatively charged TiO 2 , which demands the strict surface passivation. , This is the reason why many of the sensitizers working well with iodine-based electrolyte exhibit hampered photon harvesting when the same is being employed with cobalt electrolyte . It has been found that sensitizing dyes bearing multiple and long alkyl chains as a substituent in the main dye framework are capable of inhibiting back electron transfer from the TiO 2 to the redox shuttle and function well with the cobalt redox mediators.…”