Extension lifetime for dye-sensitized solar cells through multiple dye adsorption/desorption process

Chiang, Yi Fang; Chen, Ruei Tang; Shen, Po-Chuan; Chen, Peter; Guo, Tzung Fang

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.10.052

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…RFB can store more energy by simply increasing the electrolyte amounts. Concerning the lifetime of photo‐rechargeable energy storage devices, no data are available, up to now, but the different solar cells and storage devices reveal high lifetime potentials . A wide range of potential applications are available, such as electric wires for functional clothes and textiles, as well as portable devices for mobile phones or laptops.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photo‐Rechargeable Electric Energy Storage Systems

Schmidt

Hager

Schubert

2015

Advanced Energy Materials

166

131

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use of solar energy, e.g., solar collectors, and concentrated solar thermal systems, as well as solar cells. Due to increasing manufacturing capacities and lower costs, the installed capacities of solar cells has grown massively in recent years. In 2012, the capacity of installed solar cells rose over the level of 100 GW worldwide. [ 10 ] The major drawback of solar power is that electricity generation is directly coupled to the availability of the sun (e.g., day and night, weather). This dependence of solar energy does not comply with the actual energy demand and requires a solution. The key technology is the combination of solar cells and effective energy storage systems, e.g., batteries or supercapacitors, to create independent electrical energy sources. [ 8,[11][12][13][14][15] Usually, the generated photovoltaic energy is stored by external batteries (e.g., Li ion or nickel/metal hydride batteries), which are directly connected to the solar cells by wires. [ 13,16,17 ] As a consequence, the relatively long distance between both parts lowers the energy storage effi ciency. [ 13 ] One approach to avoid this problem is the integration of the photo conversion system and the energy storage part within one device, for an effective storage of the excess energy. [ 6,18 ] The stored energy can be released and used throughout the day, and at different places, even if the sun is not shining. [ 18,19 ] Different possibilities for storing large amounts of energy are available, e.g., pumped hydroelectric energy storage or compressed air energy storage as large-scale, centralized systems. [ 19 ] Moreover, photo generated electricity can be stored as chemical energy. The best known system for conversion and storage of solar energy as chemical energy is the photosynthesis of plants, algae and bacteria, in which organic material and oxygen are generated by water and carbon dioxide under sunlight illumination. [ 20 ] Water splitting represents an artifi cial way, [ 19,21 ] where hydrogen and oxygen are produced by utilization of photo catalysts [ 22 ] or semiconducting electrodes. [ 23 ] Photo-electrochemical energy can be effi ciently stored by using two vanadium based redox couples. [ 24 ] Other possibilities for storage of solar energy are molecular energy storage systems, where new chemical bonds are formed; phase change materials, where the energy is stored as thermal energy; as well as electrochemical storage systems. [ 20,25 ] Many types of electrochemical storage applications such as rechargeable batteries (e.g., lithium ion batteries, hightemperature sodium batteries, or lead acid batteries), organic radical batteries, redox fl ow batteries, as well as electrochemical supercapacitors are available. [ 4,19,26 ] A solar rechargeable battery uses the solar light to generate electric energy, which is directly stored by an integrated storage The global energy demand is increasing at the same time as fossil fuel resources are dwindling. Consequently, the search for alternative energy sources is a major topic worldwide. Sol...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photo‐Rechargeable Electric Energy Storage Systems

Schmidt

Hager

Schubert

2015

Advanced Energy Materials

166

131

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“…We previously demonstrated a novel concept of extending the lifetime of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) and reducing the costs of reconditioning them by recycling FTO/TiO 2 substrates [11]. The results revealed that dye adsorption and oc under multiple dye adsorption/desorption processes were significantly increased, improving the power conversion efficiency.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation and Optimization to Recycle Used TiO₂Photoelectrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Chen

Liao

2014

International Journal of Photoenergy

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This study proposes a method for recycling and activating the titanium oxide (TiO2)/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) by repeated dye adsorption and desorption processes using various desorption agents. This simple and convenient method could be utilized to activate TiO2photoelectrodes for DSCs after the long-term operation. The devices are immersed in acidic, alkaline, and neutral media of various concentrations for desorption and then are soaked in the N719 solution again. The optimal device had an overall power conversion efficiency (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW/cm2) with 5 × 10−3 M NaOH solution as a desorption agent being 6.44% better than that of devices that had not undergone recycling and activation.

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“…Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are regarded as the nextgeneration solar cells due to their merits, including low fabrication cost and decent power conversion efficiency (PCE). [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] A PCE of >12% has been observed on DSCs. 8 A DSC is fundamentally a photoelectrochemical device.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Graphene oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites as the gelator of gel electrolytes for quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells

2014

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The practical application of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) requires high photovoltaic efficiency and good photovoltaic stability. This work reports nanocomposites of two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) and one-dimensional multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the gelator of gel electrolytes for quasi-solid state DSCs. The composite gels are formed by immobilizing an organic solvent, 3-methoxypropionitrile (MPN), with GO and MWCNTs, and the gel electrolytes are prepared by adding iodine, 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide, guanidinium thiocynate and 4-tert butylpyridine into the GO-MWCNT-MPN composite gels. GO sheets can gel organic solvents because of their hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains. The MWCNTs can reinforce the solid networks formed by GO sheets and reduce the ionic diffusion length of the redox species within the electrolyte as MWCNTs are conductive and catalytic toward the electrochemical reduction of I 3 À . The presence of MWCNTs in the gel electrolyte increases both the open-circuit voltage (V OC ) and the short-circuit current (J SC ) of DSCs so as to increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE). The optimal PCE of the DSCs with GO-MWCNT-MPN gel electrolyte is 7.12% under AM 1.5G illumination (100 mW cm À2 ), which is significantly higher than that (6.54%) of the gel DSCs without MWCNTs.

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Extension lifetime for dye-sensitized solar cells through multiple dye adsorption/desorption process

Cited by 14 publications

References 34 publications

Photo‐Rechargeable Electric Energy Storage Systems

Photo‐Rechargeable Electric Energy Storage Systems

Evaluation and Optimization to Recycle Used TiO₂Photoelectrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Graphene oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites as the gelator of gel electrolytes for quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells

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Extension lifetime for dye-sensitized solar cells through multiple dye adsorption/desorption process

Cited by 14 publications

References 34 publications

Photo‐Rechargeable Electric Energy Storage Systems

Photo‐Rechargeable Electric Energy Storage Systems

Evaluation and Optimization to Recycle Used TiO2Photoelectrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Graphene oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites as the gelator of gel electrolytes for quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells

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Evaluation and Optimization to Recycle Used TiO₂Photoelectrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells