A new method for improving the performance of dye sensitized solar cell using macro-porous silicon as photoanode

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method to improve the function of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The proposed method includes use of macro-porous silicon (PSi) as a photoanode for DSSC. The photoanode, PSi, was fabricated by a simple electrochemical anodization process. The effects of the obtained PSi-based photoanode on the DSSC performance are investigated by using photocurrent-voltage, UV-visible spectroscopy, and reflectance spectroscopy measurements. The results show that the macroporous structure in the PSi-based photoanode not only increases internal surface area in the photoanode, but also functions as an anti-reflective/light-trapping layer. Macroporous structure leads to the both enhancement of photoanode dye loading capacity and increasing the optical path length of the incident light inside the photoanode. This way, macro-porous structure plays an important role in the improvement of light harvesting efficiency. The optimal power conversion efficiency of 3.56 and 3.93 % (spin coated and sputtered TiO 2 respectively) is obtained from the PSi-based DSSC, with 58 and 75 % improvement in the efficiency as compared to a fabricated conventional DSSC. The measurement results suggest that exploiting PSi in the structure of photoanode raises hopes for low-cost and highperformance production of hybrid Si/dye solar cells in the future.

Internal path investigation of the acting electrons during the photocatalysis of panchromatic ruthenium dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells

“…Up to now, the most successfully used sensitizers in DSSCs are some polypyridyl-ruthenium(II) complexes chemisorbed on mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO 2 films owing to their promising photophysical, electrochemical, and redox properties [26e37]. Although, these sensitizers exhibit a broad range of visible light absorption [13] and long-lived excited state [20], they show a poor red response [38]. The urge to improve the performance of these cells has led to different approaches in modifying the sensitizer's structure to increase the extension of solar absorption spectra from the visible to the near-infrared region.…”

Development of Macro-Porous Silicon Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Improved Light Trapping

“…For PSi(I), the V-shaped structure at the bottom of the pores and hexagonal shape at the surface is because of (111) wafer orientation. Cross-sectional SEM images clearly demonstrate the pores size (diameter on top) in the range of 3-4 μm and their The ITO films with a thickness of 300 nm were deposited on PSi samples by DC magnetron sputtering technique, as described previously [34]. The electrical properties of the ITO films were determined by the four-point probe technique.…”

Development of Macro-Porous Silicon Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Improved Light Trapping

“…Also, by Using gravimetrical technique the percent porosity values of 51 %, 53 % and 64 % is calculated for PSi(I), PSi(II) and PSi(III) respectively. The ITO films with a thickness of 300 nm were deposited on PSi samples by DC magnetron sputtering technique, as described previously [34]. The electrical properties of the ITO films were determined by the four-point probe technique.…”