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ECN publication
Title:
Effect of TiO2-electrode properties on the efficiency of nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells (nc-DSC)
 
Author(s):
 
Published by: Publication date:
ECN Solar Energy 1997
 
ECN report number: Document type:
ECN-RX--97-033 Article (scientific)
 
Number of pages:
6  

Published in: Paper, presented at the 14th European photovoltaic solar energy conference and exhibition, 30 June - 4 July, 1997, Barcelona, Sp (), , , Vol., p.-.

Abstract:
The influence of the TiO2-microstructure on the performance of the nc-DSCis investigated. Hence, four commercial TiO2-powders with different particle diameters and sintering behaviour have been used: P25 (Degussa AG), H37 (Transcommerce International AG), AK1 and PK5585 (Bayer AG). With a view to large-scale production the TiO2-electrode preparation process is changed by substitution of the well known squeegee (doctor-blade ) method by the screen print process. The TiO2-powders and electrodes are characterized by BET-analysis, SEM and TEM, pore size distribution analysis (Hg-porosimetry), X-ray diffraction, chemical (elemental) analysis and reflection- transmission measurements. The microstructure of the electrodes, prepared from different TiO2-powders differs significantly, but the cell efficiencies at 1sun of AM1.5 solar light of the glass/SnO2:F/TiO2/cis-(NCS)2-bis(4,4-dicarboxy-2,2-bipyridine)-ruthenium (II) /electrolyte/SnO2:F(Pt)/ glass-cells were found to be comparable, implying that additional factors limit the efficiency. In contrast, the change of the paste composition influences the efficiencies expanding from 2.5% for 'screenprint paste' electrodes and 4.5% for 'squeegee paste' electrodes. No micro-structural changes could be observed by SEM for different paste composition. Hence, the different short circuit currents are probably caused by particle interconnection problems or incorporation of foreign particles during the preparation of the screenprint paste which definitely causes trapping of charge carriers. 8 refs., 5 tabs., 3 refs.


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