Solid-state dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell

Figure 17.38 Schematic of a solid-state dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell. Reprinted with permission from Ref. 75. Copyright 2002 American Chemical Society.

S. A. Haque, S. Sodergren, A. Holmes et al.. Solid state dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells employing a polymer electrolyte. International conference on photochemical conversion and storage of solar energy, Colorado, 2000. 

Nobuyuki I, Miysaka T (2005) A solid-state dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell with a poly(iV-vinyl-carbazole) hole transporter mediated by an alkali iodide. Chem Commun, 1886-1888... 

Research on the solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) has gained considerable momentum recently as this embodiment is attractive for realizing flexible photovoltaic cells in a roll-to-roll production. The spzro-OMeTAD has been the most successful p-type organic conductor (hole transport material) employed. Its work function is about 4.9 eV and the hole mobility 2 x 10-4 cm2 s x. A schematic diagram of the solid sate DSC with the structure of this hole conductor is shown in Fig. 19. Reported first in 1998, the con-... 

Solid State Dye-sensitized Solar Cells-An Alternative Route Towards Loiv-Cost Photovoltaic Devices 1475... 

The application of organic CTMs in photovoltaic devices is a new research field, which still is in its infancy. Figure 2 overviews the organic charge transfer materials that were scrutinized with regard to their application in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. A much wider range of materials is mentioned in the patent literature [13-15]. 

In dye-sensitized inorganic heterojunction solar cells, a monolayer of dye is sandwiched between two wide band gap semiconductors one of them exhibits a p-type and the other an n-type conduction mechanism. Inorganic p-type semiconductors were successfully applied in an attempt to replace the liquid electrolyte in photoelectrochemical solar cells, and in fact the first solid-state dye-sensitized photovoltaic device described in the literature was based on a wide band gap p-type semiconductor material [31]. 

Only a few materials were studied concerning their applicability to dye-sensitized hole injection processes. Among those are different copper(I) compounds (e.g. Cu(I)SCN, Cu(I)I, Cu2(I)0 [33-35]) and nickel(II) oxide [36]. Photovoltaic performances of such devices are orders of magnitudes poorer than those of classical dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical solar cells based on n-type materials. Substantial advantages could arise if an efficient photo-hole injection process would be available. The formation of solid-state tandem solar cells would become feasible, and a quantum step in device efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells could be at reach. However, because of the poor performance of all known photocathodes, a combination of available photoanodes and photocathodes to a tandem device always results in a device that is photovoltaically less efficient than the photoanode on its own. The concept for electrolyte-based tandem cells exists. However, it contains strong potential to improve the photovoltaic performance in both electrolytic and in solid-state, dye-sensitized solar cells. 

Balraju P, Kumar M, Deol YS et al (2010) Photovoltaic performance of quasi-solid state dye sensitized solar cells based on perylene dye and modified Ti02 photo-electrode. Synth Met... 

One of the strategies is to minimize the diffusion path of exitons (botmd states between an electron and electron hole) generated by photons hitting the active material in a photovoltaic cell. Once separated, holes and electrons should reach anode and cathode electrodes, respectively. During the process, recombination of holes and electrons lead to energy losses via thermal dissipation. In order to reduce such losses, minimizing the diffusion paths of exitons by means of BCP-derived nanostructures may be beneficial. To this end, a thin solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (ssDSSC) with a 3D gyroidal titania network was fabricated (see Fig. 12) [37]. In contrast to typical disordered nanoparticle networks, the ordered mesoporous... 

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are physical devices that operate on the principles of solid-state physics. Another class of device - one that is capable of splitting water - is based on photo-electrochemical reactions, which take place at electrodes that are light-sensitive. Photo-electrochemistry may serve to generate d.c. electricity (via dye-sensitized solar cells) and this can then be used to electrolyze water (as with PV cells). Alternatively, light illuminating an electrode may reduce water directly to hydrogen - a process known as photolysis . These two processes are described next. 

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