Composite Polymer Electrolyte for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Role of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

2010 ◽  
Vol 93-94 ◽  
pp. 31-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Chindaduang ◽  
Pattasuda Duangkaew ◽  
Sirapat Pratontep ◽  
Gamolwan Tumcharern
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Composite Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

We focus on the energy conversion improvement of dye-sensitized solar cells by using poly(ethylene oxide)-multi-walled carbon nanotube (PEO-MWCNT) electrolyte. Compared with the MWCNT-free solar cells, the addition of 0.05 wt.% MWCNTs in the polymer electrolyte results in a dramatic increase of the short-circuit current (Jsc), consequently raising the device performance by approximately 9% under a direct light of the Air Mass 1.5 irradiation at 100 mW cm-2. The role of the conductive carbon materials in the polymer electrolyte have been investigated by means of ionic conductometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. This work demonstrates that MWCNT additives in polymer electrolytes is a convenient yet effective strategy for improving the performance of photovoltaic devices.

scholarly journals There Is a Future for N-Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(II) Dyes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Improving Performance through Changes in the Electrolyte

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariia Karpacheva ◽  
Vanessa Wyss ◽  
Catherine E. Housecroft ◽  
Edwin C. Constable
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Alkyl Chain ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Ion Concentration ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

By systematic tuning of the components of the electrolyte, the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with an N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) dye have been significantly improved. The beneficial effects of an increased Li+ ion concentration in the electrolyte lead to photoconversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 0.66% for fully masked cells (representing 11.8% relative to 100% set for N719) and an external quantum efficiency maximum (EQEmax) up to approximately 25% due to an increased short-circuit current density (JSC). A study of the effects of varying the length of the alkyl chain in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide ionic liquids (ILs) shows that a longer chain results in an increase in JSC with an overall efficiency up to 0.61% (10.9% relative to N719 set at 100%) on going from n-methyl to n-butyl chain, although an n-hexyl chain leads to no further gain in PCE. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) support the trends in JSC and open-circuit voltage (VOC) parameters. A change in the counterion from I− to [BF4]− for 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide ionic liquid leads to DSCs with a remarkably high JSC value for an N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) dye of 4.90 mA cm−2, but a low VOC of 244 mV. Our investigations have shown that an increased concentration of Li+ in combination with an optimized alkyl chain length in the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide IL in the electrolyte leads to iron(II)-sensitized DSC performances comparable with those of containing some copper(I)-based dyes.

scholarly journals Are Alkynyl Spacers in Ancillary Ligands in Heteroleptic Bis(diimine)copper(I) Dyes Beneficial for Dye Performance in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells?

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guglielmo Risi ◽  
Mariia Becker ◽  
Catherine E. Housecroft ◽  
Edwin C. Constable
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Visible Region ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Ancillary Ligands ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

The syntheses of 4,4′-bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (1), 4,4′-bis(4-dimethylaminophenylethynyl)-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (2), 4,4′-bis(4-diphenylaminophenyl)-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (3), and 4,4′-bis(4-diphenylaminophenylethynyl)-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4) are reported along with the preparations and characterisations of their homoleptic copper(I) complexes [CuL2][PF6] (L = 1–4). The solution absorption spectra of the complexes exhibit ligand-centred absorptions in addition to absorptions in the visible region assigned to a combination of intra-ligand and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer. Heteroleptic [Cu(5)(Lancillary)]+ dyes in which 5 is the anchoring ligand ((6,6′-dimethyl-[2,2′-bipyridine]-4,4′-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene))bis(phosphonic acid) and Lancillary = 1–4 have been assembled on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-TiO2 electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Performance parameters and external quantum efficiency (EQE) spectra of the DSCs (four fully-masked cells for each dye) reveal that the best performing dyes are [Cu(5)(1)]+ and [Cu(5)(3)]+. The alkynyl spacers are not beneficial, leading to a decrease in the short-circuit current density (JSC), confirmed by lower values of EQEmax. Addition of a co-absorbent (n-decylphosphonic acid) to [Cu(5)(1)]+ lead to no significant enhancement of performance for DSCs sensitized with [Cu(5)(1)]+. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been used to investigate the interfaces in DSCs; the analysis shows that more favourable electron injection into TiO2 is observed for sensitizers without the alkynyl spacer and confirms higher JSC values for [Cu(5)(1)]+.

scholarly journals Electrolyte tuning in dye-sensitized solar cells with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) iron(II) sensitizers

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 3069-3078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariia Karpacheva ◽  
Catherine E Housecroft ◽  
Edwin C Constable
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Liquid ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

We demonstrate that the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) sensitized with a previously reported N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) dye in the presence of chenodeoxycholic acid co-adsorbant, can be considerably improved by altering the composition of the electrolyte while retaining an I−/I3 − redox shuttle. Critical factors are the solvent, presence of ionic liquid, and the use of the additives 1-methylbenzimidazole (MBI) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP). For the electrolyte solvent, 3-methoxypropionitrile (MPN) is preferable to acetonitrile, leading to a higher short-circuit current density (J SC) with little change in the open-circuit voltage (V OC). For electrolytes containing MPN, an ionic liquid and MBI (0.5 M), DSC performance depended on the ionic liquid with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoridophosphate (EMIMPF) > 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (DMPII) > 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII) ≈ 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoridophosphate (BMIMPF). Omitting the MBI leads to a significant improvement in J SC when the ionic liquid is DMPII, BMII or BMIMPF, but with EMIMPF the removal of the MBI additive results in a dramatic decrease in V OC (542 to 42 mV). For electrolytes containing MPN and DMPII, the effects of altering the MBI concentration have also been investigated. Although the addition of TBP improves V OC, it causes significant decreases in J SC. The best performing DSCs with the NHC-iron(II) dye employ an I−/I3 −-based electrolyte with MPN as solvent, DMPII ionic liquid (0.6 M) with no or 0.01 M MBI; values of J SC = 2.31 to 2.78 mA cm−2, V OC = 292 to 374 mV have been achieved giving η in the range of 0.47 to 0.57% which represents 7.8 to 9.3% relative to an N719 reference DSC set at 100%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to understand the role of the MBI additive in the electrolytes.

Effects of Activated Carbon Counter Electrode on Bifacial Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)

2021 ◽  
Vol 1016 ◽  
pp. 863-868
Author(s):  
Tika Erna Putri ◽  
Yuan Hao ◽  
Fadzai Lesley Chawarambwa ◽  
Hyunwoong Seo ◽  
Min Kyu Son ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Counter Electrode ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Optical Losses ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

The losses of solar cells are consisted of electrical losses and optical losses. Optical losses chiefly reduce the short-circuit current. Here we apply bifacial cell approach to increase light absorption and the short-circuit current of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We have employed activated carbon (AC) as a very low cost counter electrode, an alternative to Pt counter electrode. Addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and titanium carbonitride (TiCN) to AC increase the efficiency of bifacial DSSC at a mirror angle of from 5.10% to and , respectively. These results indicate that AC has the potential to replace Pt as a very low cost counter electrode of bifacial DSSCs. The bifacial DSSC system using double plane mirrors improve PCE to for Pt counter electrode at a mirror angle of , and for AC counter electrode at a mirror angle of , respectively.

scholarly journals Toward Current Matching in Tandem Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2936
Author(s):  
Junfeng Wei ◽  
Zhipeng Shao ◽  
Bin Pan ◽  
Shuanghong Chen ◽  
Linhua Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Current Matching ◽  
Current Densities ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Photovoltaic Technologies ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

The tandem pn-type dye-sensitized solar cells (pn-DSCs) have received much attention in the field of photovoltaic technologies because of their great potential to overcome the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limitation that applies to single junction photovoltaic devices. However, factors governing the short-circuit current densities (Jsc) of pn-DSC remain unclear. It is typically believed that Jsc of the pn-DSC is limited to the highest one that the two independent photoelectrodes can achieve. In this paper, however, we found that the available Jsc of pn-DSC is always determined by the larger Jsc that the photoanode can achieve but not by the smaller one in the photocathode. Such experimental findings were verified by a simplified series circuit model, which shows that a breakdown will occur on the photocathode when the photocurrent goes considerably beyond its threshold voltage, thus leading to an abrupt increase in Jsc of the circuit. The simulation results also suggest that a higher photoconversion efficiency of the pn-DSCs can be only achieved when an almost equivalent photocurrent is achieved for the two photoelectrodes.

scholarly journals Prunus domestica dye extraction for fabrication of zinc oxide based dye-sensitized solar cells

BIBECHANA ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Leela Pradhan Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Oxide ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Zinc Nitrate ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Dye Extraction ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Aluminium doped Zinc Oxide (AZO) seed layers were deposited on Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) substrates using a spin coating technique. These were then immersed in growth solutions of zinc nitrate, hexamethylenetetramine and distilled water to develop nanoplates of Zinc Oxide (ZnO). The nanostructures of ZnO grown on FTO were studied using x-ray diffraction techniques. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were fabricated using two prepared electrodes, one of dye-loaded zinc oxide and another that was platinum coated. The electrolyte used was potassium iodide iodine solution. The performance of the assembled DSCCs was tested by drawing an IV curve. The results showed that the short circuit current and open circuit voltages were about 10 microamperes and 270 millivolts respectively.BIBECHANA 13 (2016) 23-28

scholarly journals Dye-sensitized solar cells with natural dyes extracted from plant seeds

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatem El-Ghamri ◽  
Taher El-Agez ◽  
Sofyan Taya ◽  
Monzir Abdel-Latif ◽  
Amal Batniji
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Tio2 Film ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Natural Dyes ◽  
Plant Seeds ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

AbstractThe application of natural dyes extracted from plant seeds in the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been explored. Ten dyes were extracted from different plant seeds and used as sensitizers for DSSCs. The dyes were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. DSSCs were prepared using TiO2 and ZnO nanostructured mesoporous films. The highest conversion efficiency of 0.875 % was obtained with an allium cepa (onion) extract-sensitized TiO2 solar cell. The process of TiO2-film sintering was studied and it was found that the sintering procedure significantly affects the response of the cell. The short circuit current of the DSSC was found to be considerably enhanced when the TiO2 semiconducting layer was sintered gradually.

scholarly journals Performance of natural-dye-sensitized solar cells by ZnO nanorod and nanowall enhanced photoelectrodes

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 287-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saif Saadaoui ◽  
Mohamed Aziz Ben Youssef ◽  
Moufida Ben Karoui ◽  
Rached Gharbi ◽  
Emanuele Smecca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Growth Time ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Photovoltaic Parameters ◽  
Anchoring Groups ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

In this work, two natural dyes extracted from henna and mallow plants with a maximum absorbance at 665 nm were studied and used as sensitizers in the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the extract revealed the presence of anchoring groups and coloring constituents. Two different structures were prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) using zinc oxide (ZnO) layers to obtain ZnO nanowall (NW) or nanorod (NR) layers employed as a thin film at the photoanode side of the DSSC. The ZnO layers were annealed at different temperatures under various gas sources. Indeed, the forming gas (FG) (N2/H2 95:5) was found to enhance the conductivity by a factor of 103 compared to nitrogen (N2) or oxygen (O2) annealing gas. The NR width varied between 40 and 100 nm and the length from 500 to 1000 nm, depending on the growth time. The obtained NWs had a length of 850 nm. The properties of the developed ZnO NW and NR layers with different thicknesses and their effect on the photovoltaic parameters were studied. An internal coverage of the ZnO NWs was also applied by the deposition of a thin TiO2 layer by reactive sputtering to improve the cell performance. The application of this layer increased the overall short circuit current J sc by seven times from 2.45 × 10−3 mA/cm2 to 1.70 × 10−2 mA /cm2.

Hybrid Structure of TiO2 Nanofiber and Nanoparticle for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 922 ◽  
pp. 356-359
Author(s):  
Ji Sun Kim ◽  
Seong Cheol Shim ◽  
Tae Hwan Hwang ◽  
Won Youl Choi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Anatase Phase ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Hybrid Structure ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Nanofiber Film ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Screen Printed

Hybrid structure of TiO2nanofiber and nanoparticle as a photoelectrode was very attractive in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) because TiO2nanoparticle provided a high specific surface area to adsorb the N719 dye and TiO2nanofiber was a direct path to transfer photoelectron from dye to electrode. TiO2nanofiber film was prepared with titanium-tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) based precursor by electro-spinning process. To fabricate the hybrid structure, TiO2nanoparticular paste was screen printed on the TiO2nanofiber film. Electrospun TiO2nanofiber film and screen printed TiO2nanoparticular film were combined in layer by layer method. These films were observed as an anatase phase by X-ray diffraction pattern. Thickness and diameter of TiO2nanofibers were ~5μm and ~400nm, respectively. Thickness and particle size of TiO2particles were ~5μm and ~20nm, respectively. Compared to conventional DSCs, higher short circuit current densities (Jsc) of 6.47 mA/cm2and higher power conversion efficiency of 3.06 % were measured in DSCs having hybrid structure of TiO2nanofiber and nanoparticle. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was observed to understand an electron transfer and life time.

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