DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS

INTRODUCTION

• History
• Importance of solar cell
• Introduction
• Dye sensitized Solar Cells?
 Structure
 Electrochemistry of DSSC
 Operating principle
 Introduction
• Energy Demand up to 2050 → 28 TW
• 1.7 x 105 TW of solar energy that strikes on earth surface

• Sun emits the light with a

range of wavelength from
UV to Vis to infrared
• Conversion of photon
flux into electrical energy
 1st
generation
1954 solar cells
Bell
labs 2nd
generation
1860 solar cells
Augustin
1946
Mouchot Russell 3rd
1905 generation
Albert Ohl
solar cells
Einstein
1839
Bacquerel
1st generation solar cells 2nd generation solar cells
3rd generation solar cells
C-Si and Multi. C-Si. a-Si thin film, CdTe and CIGS
DSSC and Organic solar cells
1.High production cost 1.Made from rare, expensive /
toxic material 1. Very inexpensive to produce
2.Complex fabrication
process 2.New tech. to large scale 2. Green energy
3.Eff. reach to theoretical increase production coast 3.Flexible& light weight
max. 3.Photo degradation over time 4. Eff. comparable to 1st gen.
4.Little room for 4. Limited availability of 5. Large scope for development
development materials
DSSC
Michael Grätzel, inventor of the dye-sensitized solar cell,
wins 2010 Millennium Technology Prize
 Structure of DSSC
A. Working electrode (Semiconductor)
B. Dye molecules (sensitizer)
C. Electrolyte
D. Counter electrode
Electron energy
Current Generation in DSCs
(eV vs. NHE)
TiO2 Dye Electrolyte Cathode
-1.0

-0.5

0.5 Red Ox

1.0 e-
S°

Wide band-gap
semiconductor
Electron energy
Current Generation in DSCs
(eV vs. NHE)
TiO2 Dye Electrolyte Cathode
-1.0
e- S*
-0.5 1.Light absorption

0 1
hν
0.5 Red Ox

1.0 h+
S°/S+

Wide band-gap
semiconductor
Electron energy
Current Generation in DSCs
(eV vs. NHE)
TiO2 Dye Electrolyte Cathode
-1.0
2
3 S*
-0.5 e- 1.Light absorption
2.Injection to
0 1 semiconductor
hν 3.Percolation
0.5 Red Ox

1.0 h+
S°/S+

Wide band-gap
semiconductor
Electron energy
Current Generation in DSCs
(eV vs. NHE)
TiO2 Dye Electrolyte Cathode
-1.0
2
3 S*
-0.5 e- 1. Light absorption
2. Injection to
0 1 semiconductor
hν 3. Percolation
h+
0.5 Red Ox
4. Regeneration of
4 oxidized dye
1.0
S°/S+

Wide band-gap
semiconductor
Electron energy
Current Generation in DSCs
(eV vs. NHE)
TiO2 Dye Electrolyte Cathode
-1.0
2
3 S*
-0.5 e- 1. Light absorption
2. Injection to
0 1 semiconductor
hν h+ 3. Percolation
0.5 Red Ox 4. Regeneration of
5 oxidized dye
4 5. Regeneration of
1.0 oxidized species
S°/S+

Wide band-gap
semiconductor

e- h+
External circuit
LOAD
Dye-sensitizers can contain
several classifications of
materials. One option, natural
dye, can come from a variety
of resources such as blue
berries, blackberries, and
raspberries.. A second option,
the synthetic dye, provides
better performance because of
its optimized light collection
property.
The material used for the
positive terminal layer, or the
cathode layer, can be platinum
or carbon (graphite). Platinum
is more efficient, however, the
carbon alternative is the
easiest and least expensive to
use
 MATERIALS SELECTION
• The transparent coating for negative
terminal is made of thin layer of
fluorine-doped tin oxide, enables
sunlight to pass through it, conducting
electricity.
• For semiconductor, zinc oxide (ZnO)
or titanium dioxide (TiO2) can be
applied. TiO2 is preferred and is used
because the surface is highly resistant
to continuous electron transfer. TiO2 is
not sensitive to visible light and it only
absorb small amount of solar
photons. Therefore, dye sensitizers
have to be joined together with TiO2
layer to harvest large portions of the
sun’s light
• ZnO has higher electron mobility
TiO2, BUT has limited selection of
organic dyes.
How Does It Work?
Photoexcitation is a process in
which electrons in the
semiconductor (TiO2 layer with
dye) get 'excited' when exposed to
the photons of the sunlight. It is a
process similar to photosynthesis.
The cell is composed of a thin
semiconductor film - the porous
layer of titanium dioxide
nanoparticles, sensitized by dye
molecules that absorb sunlight. As
in a conventional alkaline battery,
an anode (the titanium dioxide) and
a cathode (the platinum) are placed
on either side of a liquid conductor
(the electrolyte).
light is irradiated into a dye, exciting
electrons in the dye. The electrons are
injected into TiO2 and diffuse, reaching the
electrode. On the counter electrode,
electrons are injected into the electrolyte
and reduce I3- ions to I- ions (when an
iodine electrolyte is used). I- ions diffuse
in the solution, reach the dye, give up
electrons, and are oxidized forming I3-
ions. This cycle is repeated causing power
generation by light irradiation.
 Efficiency
• Their conversion efficiency is less than the best thin film cells, but in
theory it can compete with fossil fuel electrical generation, when
used in grids.
• Dye sensitized solar panels currently convert about 11 to 12 percent
of the sunlight that hits them into electricity. Their silicon
counterparts which currently convert about twice as much radiation
as the dye sensitized panels
 Efficiency
More to go

DSSC 15%
Perovskite-sensitized solar cells
CH3NH3PbX3 (X= Cl, Br, I)
PbX2 and CH3NH3X
Sequential deposition

DSSC 12.3%
Incorporate a Co based - zinc porphyrin
dye sensitizer
Reduced back electron transfer
High Voltage

Aswani Yella et al. Science, 2011, 629, 334.

Julian Burschka, et al. Nature 2013, 499, 316.
Development of DSSC

 Flexible DSSC Module

Glass-based DSSC Module 