Improving the effective photovoltaic performance in dye-sensitized solar cells using an azobenzenecarboxylic acid-based system

Abstract

In this research, an azobenzenecarboxylic acid was used as a sufficient co-adsorbent in combination with N719 dye. As it is found from the results, an optimized concentration of the co-absorbent leads to the highest efficiency. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) parameters such as short-circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc) and conversion efficiency (η) were obtained -14.87 mA/cm 2 , 0.765 V and 5.20% respectively. Based on the results, the N719/Azobenzenecarboxylic-based system shows a significant increase in Voc and Jsc, resulting in an ∼21% improvement in the efficiency. A higher conversion efficiency for the co-adsorbent-based systems was assigned to their enhanced η, which is attributed to reduced dye aggregation, higher electron injection and increased Voc. This corresponded to the improved electron density in the TiO 2 conduction band of the photoanode and reduced charge recombination revealed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. Also, evidence was provided for a long charge life time and a high resistance of charge recombination for the co-absorbed solar cells.

Preliminary Investigation on Vacancy Filling by Small Molecules on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: The Case of a Type-II Absorber

“…Interfacial charge transport kinetics were investigated at ambient condition for an applied potential (frequency scan of 1 MHz-0.01 Hz) according to V oc of the devices ( Mazloum-Ardakani and Arazi, 2019 ). Figure 5A represents the EIS-Nyquist plot which shows two semicircle behaviors corresponding to high and mid-frequency potentials for all the three different devices.…”

“…Co-sensitization has been useful to increase PCE (%) of DSSCs. Co-sensitization of N719 dye with organic dyes has enhanced the spectral range from the visible to near-infrared (NIR) region in order to increase the absorption on TiO 2 ( Zhang et al, 2011 ; Elangovan and Venkatachalam, 2015 ; Luo et al, 2016 ; Mazloum-Ardakani and Arazi, 2019 ; Wu et al, 2020 ). It is also useful to co-sensitize two metal-complex dyes, but they usually have bulky groups, which makes the utilization of active sites on the semiconductor less effective.…”

Dye extracted from Costus woodsonii leave as a natural sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cell

“…Several organic dyes and inorganic metal complexes have been engineered and used as sensitizers. DSSCs sensitized with ruthenium-polypyridyl complexes have reported good efficiencies of 11 -14 % [19][20][21]. However, the synthesis of these complexes is not only complicated but is also expensive.…”

Enhancement of photovoltaic performance using a novel photocathode based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Ag–CuO nanocomposite in dye-sensitized solar cells

“…The DSSCs are a low-cost alternative to a conventional photovoltaic system based on wafer silicon or compound semiconductor devices. A DSSC is made of a photoanode, a redox couple (I − 3 /I − ) in the liquid electrolyte, a dye sensitizer adsorbed on mesoporous TiO 2 and a counter electrode (CE), the latter catalyzes electrolyte regeneration [7]. In DSSCs, Pt has good electrocatalytic activity (ECA) toward the reduction of I − 3 , and it is usually utilized as the photocathode.…”

“…In the past decades, advances in nanotechnology and nanoscience have expanded the possibilities for employing nanoparticles (NPs) in various fields: (1) metal/oxide nanoparticles, (2) carbon nanotubes, (3) graphene and (4) carbon nanofibers [13][14][15]. Metals such as nickel, manganese, zinc and copper have gained interest owing to their enormous advantages such as electron transfer capabilities, good ECA, large surface areas and easy accessibility [16].…”