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Title:
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Stability of sealed nanocrystalline organic photovoltaic devices
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
Solar Energy
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1997
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-RX--97-032
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Article (scientific)
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Number of pages:
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6
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Published in: Paper, presented at the 14th European photovoltaic solar energy conference and exhibition, 30 June - 4 July, Barcelona, Spain (), , , Vol., p.-.
Abstract:
In contrast to conventional silicon photovoltaic devices, the dyesensitized solar cell (DSC) converts light energy to electricity on a
molecular level, similar to natural photosynthesis. This type of cells
contain components which are sensitive to degradation. Stability testing is
required to judge whether applied materials fulfill requirements concerning
stability. Total stability of the cell can be divided into physical and
chemical stability. Physical stability addresses the evaporation of the
electrolytic solvents which can be prevented by adequate sealing. Chemical
stability includes factors as: dye and electrolyte degradation and TiO2
catalyzed oxidation of the organic components. Stability tests have been
conducted at Solaronix with polymer sealed devices containing viscous
electrolyte with a high boiling point (glutarodinitrile). For high power
applications volatile electrolytes with low viscosity (acetonitrile) give the
best performance. Sealing materials used up to now could not prevent
evaporation of acetonitrile. Hence, novel devices sealed with an O-ring
material are under test at ECN. Long term stability testing carried out on
the Solaronix polymer sealed device revealed that no significant degradation
of the stability occurs over a period of 9600 hours of continuous
illumination. This indicates that the dye sensitized solar cell is physically
and chemically stable during the period of illumination. 5 figs., 1 ref.
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