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ECN publication
Title:
An alternative approach to solid state dye solar cells; recent developments and discussion of a concept based on direct regeneration of the dye by metallic conductors
 
Author(s):
 
Published by: Publication date:
ECN Solar Energy 11-9-2006
 
ECN report number: Document type:
ECN-RX--06-027 Conference Paper
 
Number of pages: Full text:
3 Download PDF  

Presented at: 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, Dresden, Germany, 4-8 september 2006.

Abstract:
An alternative approach to solid state dye solar cells is presented. In this approach the molecular dye (N3) is situated at the interface between a TiO2 film and a metallic (Au) film. The Au layer provides a direct electrical contact to the dye with the ability to regenerate the charge-neutral state of the dye upon electron injection into the TiO2 conduction band under illumination. When comparing flat model devices of the general structure "TiO2/N3/regeneration material" the photocurrent output with Au as regeneration material was comparable to the ouput obtained with reference compounds, such as the redox couple I-/I3- in solution or p-type CuSCN. The development of compositionally homogeneous TiO2/Au nanocomposite films as building blocks for devices with a nanostructured rather than a flat interface is presented. The successful application of dyes with higher molecular extinction coefficients is shown to lead to improved current output.


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