Large area dye-sensitized solar cells: material aspects of fabrication

• Published in: Progress in photovoltaics Vol. 14; no. 7; pp. 643 - 651
• Main Authors: Kumara, G. R. A., Kaneko, S., Konno, A., Okuya, M., Murakami, K., Onwona-agyeman, B., Tennakone, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-11-2006; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; dye-sensitized solar cells; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; fluorine-doped tin oxide glass; indium-tin oxide glass; magnesium oxide; nanocrystalline TiO2 films; Natural energy; photoelectrochemical cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; titanium dioxide; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Particle size; Oxide layer; Fluorine; Light scattering; Magnesium oxide; indium-tin oxide glass; fluorine-doped tin oxide glass; dye-sensitized solar cells; Energetic efficiency; nanocrystalline TiO2 films; Tin oxide; Photoelectrochemical cell; photoelectrochemical cells; titanium dioxide; ITO layers; Manufacturing; Porosity; Performance; Titanium oxide; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 1062-7995; 1099-159X
• DOI: 10.1002/pip.695

Dye‐sensitized photoelectrochemical solar cells of large area are fabricated using highly conducting and optically transparent glass consisting of an inner layer of indium‐tin oxide and an outer layer of fluorine doped tin oxide. A method is described for the deposition of nanocrystalline films of TiO2 consisting of large and small median size particles (30 and 5 nm, respectively) which promote porosity and light scattering. Incorporation of trace quantities of magnesium oxide into TiO2 increased the efficiency of the cells. The energy conversion efficiency of a cell (AM 1·5, 1000 W m−2 simulated sunlight) of area 21 cm2 was found to be 7·2% compared to 5·6% in the absence of magnesium oxide. The mechanisms by which the magnesium oxide improves the cell performance are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.