Fabrication of flexible dye-sensitised solar cells with titanium dioxide thin films based on screen-printing technique

Abstract

Flexible dye-sensitised solar cells (FDSSCs) which have different quantities of arrayed titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) working electrode for parallel modules are introduced. FDSSCs are usually fabricated as a module type instead of single cell to enhance conversion efficiency and characteristic parameters. The general FDSSCs modules are designed as parallel strip-shaped and as parallel interconnection types, and there are some advantages such as easy fabrication, low cost and simple structure. In this reported study, the active areas of FDSSCs are the same (0.48 cm 2 ), and they have different quantities of TiO 2 thin films. The single strip-shaped TiO 2 working electrode has a larger internal resistance than more quantities of TiO 2 thin films. Therefore, and they have fabricating the different quantities of arrayed flexible TiO 2 working electrodes is the better method to solve the problem, higher internal resistance than single TiO 2 thin film. As a result, the FDSSC, which has the triple stripshaped TiO 2 working electrode, has a higher conversion efficiency (0.25%) than other different quantities of TiO 2 thin films.

Fabrication of Flexible Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Modules using Commercially Available Materials

“…Many researches have been researching different photovoltaic (PV) technologies to fulfill the demands . In these PV technologies, dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have shown the excellent characteristics of a high theoretical efficiency, comparably easier manufacturing, and lower cost than conventional solar cells . For example, when under low‐intensity irradiation (≈0.3–0.5 sun), the efficiency of the DSSC is comparable with Si‐based solar cells .…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6] In these PV technologies,d ye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have shown the excellentc haracteristics of ah igh theoretical efficiency,c omparablye asier manufacturing, and lower cost than conventional solar cells. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] For example,w hen under low-intensityi rradiation ( % 0.3-0.5 sun), the efficiency of the DSSC is comparable with Sibased solar cells. [8] Compared withg lass substrate-based dyesensitizeds olar cells,t he flexible DSSCs show advantages of light weight, flexibility,a nd low thickness,w hich render them additional potential for applications and ease in transportation, installation, and massproduction.…”

“…To produce DSSC moduleso ng lass substrates,o rganic binders are usually added into the TiO 2 slurry to increase its viscosity for screen printing and to prevent cracking of the deposited films during drying. [14,17,[20][21][22][23] A subsequent high-temperature sintering process (> 400 8C) is necessary to remove the residual organic binder and to enhance the inter-particlec onnection between TiO 2 particles and the adhesion between the TiO 2 working electrode film and the conductive substrate. [15,21,23] Forp roducing flexible DSSCs on plastic substrates,t he treatment temperature has to be limited to < 150 8C.…”

“…However, plastic substrates, such as conductive indium‐tin oxide (ITO)‐coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films, used in flexible DSSCs remain an obstacle in achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to their thermal instability, which limits the thermal treatment temperature to less than 150 °C. To produce DSSC modules on glass substrates, organic binders are usually added into the TiO 2 slurry to increase its viscosity for screen printing and to prevent cracking of the deposited films during drying . A subsequent high‐temperature sintering process (>400 °C) is necessary to remove the residual organic binder and to enhance the inter‐particle connection between TiO 2 particles and the adhesion between the TiO 2 working electrode film and the conductive substrate .…”

The Influence of Electrophoretic Deposition for Fabricating Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell

“…And it also allows us to prepare any kind of conductive substrate shape. In addition, the electrophoretic deposition does not limit to the deposition temperature during processing of depositing TiO 2 film [10].…”