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Title:
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Long-term stability of dye-sensitised solar cells
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Author(s):
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Hinsch, A.; Kroon, J.M.; Kern, R.; Ferber, J.; Uhlendorf, I.; Holzbock, J.; Meyer, A.
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
Solar Energy
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1-11-2001
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-RX--01-069
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Article (scientific)
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Number of pages:
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14
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Published in: Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications (John Wiley & Sons Ltd.), , 2001, Vol.9, p.425-438.
Abstract:
Accelerated ageing tests on large numbers of nanocrystalline dye-sensitised solar cells (nc-DSC) show that, to first order, separation between the effects of the stresses of visible light soaking, UV illumination and thermal treatment on long-term stability is possible. The corresponding mechanisms are electrochemical, photochemical and purely chemical in nature. It was found that visible light soaking alone is not a dominant stress factor. A dramatic improvement in UV stability has been achieved by using MgI2 as additive to the electrolyte. Thermal stress appears to be one of the most critical factors determining the long-term stability of nc-DSC and is strongly related to the chemical composition of electrolyte solvents and additives. Encouraging stability results have been obtained for cells based on pure nitrile-based solvents: (1) A minor decrease in performance of initially 5.5% solar efficient cells has been found after 2000 h at 60C without light soaking; (2) After 900 h of combined thermal stress and continuous light soaking (45 C, 1 sun equivalent) good stability with 15% decrease in maximum power can be demonstrated. It should be noted that such good thermal stability has not been reported previously for dye-sensitised solar cells so far.
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