Publications

Skip Navigation Links.
Recently Published
Collapse per documenttypeper documenttype
Expand per Unitper Unit
Expand per Clusterper Cluster

Search for publications:


Limit search to the fields

ECN publication
Title:
Long-term stability of dye-sensitised solar cells
 
Author(s):
Hinsch, A.; Kroon, J.M.; Kern, R.; Ferber, J.; Uhlendorf, I.; Holzbock, J.; Meyer, A.
 
Published by: Publication date:
ECN Solar Energy 1-11-2001
 
ECN report number: Document type:
ECN-RX--01-069 Article (scientific)
 
Number of pages:
14  

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.


Back to List