Metal substrate based electrodes for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells: fabrication methods, progress and challenges

Abstract

A step towards commercialization of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) requires more attention to engineering aspects, such as flexibility, the roll to roll fabrication process, the use of cost effective materials, etc. In this aspect, advantages of flexible DSSCs attracted many researchers to contemplate the transparent conducting oxide coated flexible plastic substrates and the thin metallic foils. In this feature article, the pros and cons of these two kinds of substrates are compared. The flexible dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated using metal substrates are briefly discussed. The working electrodes of DSSCs fabricated on various metal substrates, their fabrication methods, the effect of high temperature calcination and drawbacks of back illumination are reviewed in detail. A few reports on the flexible metal substrate based counter electrodes that could be combined with the plastic substrate based working electrodes are also covered at the end.

Novel scalable synthesis of highly conducting and robust PEDOT paper for a high performance flexible solid supercapacitor

“…Among the various materials, flexible metal foils 5 and metal coated flexible substrates 6 possess high conductivity, and, thus, are being used as the current collectors in most of the electrochemical devices 7 . This approach is very challenging in the present situation due to the lack of materials which possess the required conductivity, flexibility and capacitance concomitantly.…”

Recent Developments in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

“…[288][289][290] The deposition method affects R ct and the stability of the electrode. [291,299] The high conductivity of thin metallic foils can reduce the internal resistance, and thus result in an increase in fill factor and conversion efficiency in DSCs. [20,291,292] Thermal decomposition is simply carried out by spreading H 2 PtCl 6 solution on the surface, followed by drying and calcination to 400 8C to form an ultrathin film of about 5-10 mg cm À2 on FTO.…”

Silver Nanowire Top Electrodes in Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells using Titanium Metal as Substrate

“…[6] However,integrating atransparent materiala st op electrode is necessary in metal-substrate cells, as opaque metals disruptl ight absorption fromt he photoanode. The Ag NW electrodes were deposited on top of the spiro-MeOTAD hole transport layer by ac arefully controlled spray-coating method at moderate temperatures.…”

“…[6] However,integrating atransparent materiala st op electrode is necessary in metal-substrate cells, as opaque metals disruptl ight absorption fromt he photoanode. They are promisingp hotovoltaics owing to their excellent properties and low cost of fabrication.T his attention has resulted in remarkable improvements to the devices' powerc onversione fficiency (PCE), which has achieved certified values exceeding 20 %.…”

“…[3] To address this issue many studies have reported the fabrication of FPSCs on polymer substrates, employing both organic and inorganic n-type materials fabricated at low temperature in planar and meso-superstructured cells. [6] However,integrating atransparent materiala st op electrode is necessary in metal-substrate cells, as opaque metals disruptl ight absorption fromt he photoanode. These materials require high-temperature (ca.…”