Modifications of Liquid Electrolyte for Monolithic Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) has been well known as a highly competitive photovoltaic technology owing to its interesting characteristics, such as, low-cost, simple, and convenient to modify both chemically and physically. One way to reduce the production cost of DSSCs is to conduct a structural modification in the form of a monolithic structure by using a single conductive substrate to accommodate both photoelectrode and counter electrode. However, the photovoltaic performance of monolithic DSSCs is typically still lacking compared to its conventional DSSCs counterparts that uses sandwich structure. One of the crucial factors that determine the photovoltaic performance of a monolithic DSSC is its electrolyte. In this work, the performance of monolithic DSSCs were studied through modifications of the electrolyte component. Two types of commercial liquid electrolytes that have different chemical properties were used and combined into various compositions, and the resulting DSSCs performances were compared. The stability of the monolithic cells was also monitored by measuring the cells repeatedly under the same condition. The result showed that during the first measurement the highest performance with a power conversion efficiency of 1.69% was achieved by the cell with a higher viscosity electrolyte. Meanwhile, the most stable performance is shown by the cell containing lower viscosity electrolyte, which achieved an efficiency of 0.66% that measured on day 35.

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Controlled Assembly of Nanorod TiO2 Crystals via a Sintering Process: Photoanode Properties in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2017/7686053 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Saeid Vafaei ◽

Kazuhiro Manseki ◽

Soki Horita ◽

Masaki Matsui ◽

Takashi Sugiura

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Low Cost ◽

Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Sintering Process ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

First Time ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Control Crystallization

We present for the first time a synthetic method of obtaining 1D TiO2 nanorods with sintering methods using bundle-shaped 3D rutile TiO2 particles (3D BR-TiO2) with the dimensions of around 100 nm. The purpose of this research is (i) to control crystallization of the mixture of two kinds of TiO2 semiconductor nanocrystals, that is, 3D BR-TiO2 and spherical anatase TiO2 (SA-TiO2) on FTO substrate via sintering process and (ii) to establish a new method to create photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In addition, we focus on the preparation of low-cost and environmentally friendly titania electrode by adopting the “water-based” nanofluids. Our results provide useful guidance on how to improve the photovoltaic performance by reshaping the numerous 3D TiO2 particles to 1D TiO2-based electrodes with sintering technique.

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Heterocyclic-Functionalized Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Tuning Solar Cell Performance by Structural Modification

Australian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1071/ch12126 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 65 (9) ◽

pp. 1203 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Qianqian Li ◽

Zhongxing Jiang ◽

Jingui Qin ◽

Zhen Li

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Molecular Design ◽

Organic Dyes ◽

Low Cost ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell Performance ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

The Relationship ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

Due to their high conversion efficiency and low cost of production, dye-sensitized solar cells based on organic dyes have attracted considerable attention. By utilizing various heterocycles as construction blocks for organic dyes, the performance of solar cells was optimized to exhibit good light-harvesting features and suppress interfacial recombinations. The aim of this review is to highlight recent progress in the molecular design of heterocyclic-functionalized organic dyes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells, and special attention has been paid to the relationship between chemical structure and the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on these dyes.

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Electrochemical characterization and photovoltaic performance of the binary ionic liquid electrolyte of 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate for dye-sensitized solar cells

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry ◽

10.1016/j.jphotochem.2010.04.009 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 212 (2-3) ◽

pp. 147-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Ping Cheng ◽

Wanjun Wang ◽

Tian Lan ◽

Ruihao Chen ◽

Junfei Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquid ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Electrochemical Characterization ◽

Ionic Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

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Durability of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Modules

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4001152 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 132 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Takayuki Kitamura ◽

Kenichi Okada ◽

Hiroshi Matsui ◽

Nobuo Tanabe

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquid ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Ionic Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Endurance Tests ◽

The Stability ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Excellent Stability

It was investigated that the intrusion of water into the electrolyte was the most critical reason for the low stability of a dye-sensitized solar cell. To prevent the water intrusion, robust solar cells and submodules with a novel protection layer of metal circuit and tightly sealing package was developed. The excellent stability of the cell with ionic liquid electrolyte at high temperature conditions was also reveled. The resulting cell employing noble construction and ionic liquid electrolyte showed an extremely high stability to pass several endurance tests standardized in JIS for the stability of the photovoltaic submodule.

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Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14216563 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (21) ◽

pp. 6563

Author(s):

Md. Mahbubur Rahman

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Low Cost ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Solution Process ◽

Charge Transfer Resistance ◽

Counter Electrodes ◽

Transfer Resistance ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

Novel nickel nitroprusside (NNP) nanoparticles with incorporated graphene nanoplatelets (NNP/GnP) were used for the first time as a low-cost and effective counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). NNP was synthesized at a low-temperature (25 °C) solution process with suitable purity and crystallinity with a size range from 5 to 10 nm, as confirmed by different spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. The incorporation of an optimized amount of GnP (0.2 wt%) into the NNP significantly improved the electrocatalytic behavior for the redox reaction of iodide (I-)/tri-iodide (I3-) by decreasing the charge-transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface, lower than the NNP- and GnP-CEs, and comparable to the Pt-CE. The NNP/GnP nanohybrid CE when applied in DSSC exhibited a PCE of 6.13% (under one sun illumination conditions) with the Jsc, Voc, and FF of 14.22 mA/cm2, 0.628 V, and 68.68%, respectively, while the PCE of the reference Pt-CE-based DSSC was 6.37% (Jsc = 14.47 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.635 V, and FF = 69.20%). The low cost of the NNP/GnP hybrid CE with comparable photovoltaic performance to Pt-CE can be potentially exploited as a suitable replacement of Pt-CE in DSSCs.

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Novel Quasi-Solid-State Electrolytes based on Electrospun Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Fiber Membranes for Highly Efficient and Stable Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano9050783 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 783 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Fan Cheng ◽

Ying Ou ◽

Guoliang Liu ◽

Li Zhao ◽

Binghai Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquid ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Pvdf Membrane ◽

Ionic Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

The Stability ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

To obtain new highly efficient and stable quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cells (QS-DSSCs) that can meet the requirements for the large-scale commercial application of solar cells, we have developed a novel quasi-solid-state electrolyte, based on an electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane. The structure and properties of electrospun PVDF membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), thermogravimetric (TG), and mechanical testing. The results indicate that the electrospun PVDF membrane has a three-dimensional network structure with extremely high porosity, which not only acts as a barrier to prevent electrolyte leakage but also provides a channel for the transmission of ions in the electrolyte, thereby effectively guaranteeing the high photoelectric conversion efficiency of the cells. The membrane was observed to withstand the conditions of hot-press (110 °C), and exhibited good thermal stability and mechanical strength, which are critical for the long-term stability and safety of the cells. The photovoltaic characteristics and stabilities of QS-DSSCs were compared with DSSCs based on an ionic liquid electrolyte (L-DSSC). QS-DSSCs with an 80 μm thick nanofiber electrolyte membrane showed a conversion efficiency of 8.63%, whereas an identical cell based on the corresponding ionic liquid electrolyte showed an efficiency of 9.30%. The stability test showed that, under indoor and outdoor conditions, after 390 h, the L-DSSCs failed. Meanwhile, the QS-DSSCs also maintained 84% and 77% of the original efficiency. The results show that, compared to the liquid electrolyte, the design of the quasi-solid electrolytes based on electrospun PVDF nanofiber membrane not only demonstrates the high conversion efficiency of DSSCs but also enhances the stability of the DSSCs, which provides the possibility for the fabrication of solar cells with higher efficiency and stability.

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A Cheap Synthetic Route to Commercial Ruthenium N3 Dye for Sensitizing Solar Cell Applications

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.488-489.1049 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 488-489 ◽

pp. 1049-1054 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rukkiat Jitchati ◽

Yuranan Thathong ◽

Kittiya Wongkhan

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Ruthenium Complex ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Tio2 Electrode ◽

One Pot ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Synthetic Routes ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs) Have Received Widespread Attention Owing to their Low Cost, Easy Fabrication, and Relatively High Solar-to-electricity Conversion Efficiency. Based on the Tio2 Electrode, Ruthenium Complex Dye, Liquid Electrolyte, and Pt Counter Electrode, Dscs Have Already Exhibited an Efficiency above 11% and Offer an Appealing Alternative to Conventional Solar Cells. however, until now the Commercial and Well Known Standard Dye Is the Ruthenium Complex, Namely, Cis-bis(isothiocyanato)-bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II) (N3) which Has Been Widely Used around the Word. in this Article, N3 Standard Dye Was Synthesized and Characterized by Two Synthetic Routes: Grätzel’s Protocol and a One-pot Reaction from Cheap and Easily Prepared Starting Materials.

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Enhancing Performance of SnO2-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using ZnO Passivation Layer

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2016/9087478 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

W. M. N. M. B. Wanninayake ◽

K. Premaratne ◽

R. M. G. R. Rajapakse

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Coating Layer ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Liquid Electrolyte ◽

High Electron ◽

Electron Recombination ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Recombination Effect

Although liquid electrolyte based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have shown higher photovoltaic performance in their class, they still suffer from some practical limitations such as solvent evaporation, leakage, and sealing imperfections. These problems can be circumvented to a certain extent by replacing the liquid electrolytes with quasi-solid-state electrolytes. Even though SnO2shows high election mobility when compared to the semiconductor material commonly used in DSCs, the cell performance of SnO2-based DSCs is considerably low due to high electron recombination. This recombination effect can be reduced through the use of ultrathin coating layer of ZnO on SnO2nanoparticles surface. ZnO-based DSCs also showed lower performance due to its amphoteric nature which help dissolve in slightly acidic dye solution. In this study, the effect of the composite SnO2/ZnO system was investigated. SnO2/ZnO composite DSCs showed 100% and 38% increase of efficiency compared to the pure SnO2-based and ZnO-based devices, respectively, with the gel electrolyte consisting of LiI salt.

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