N719 and N3 dyes for quasi-solid state dye sensitized solar cells - A comparative study using polyacrylonitrile and CsI based electrolytes

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells offer a low cost alternative technology for solar energy harvesting. However, there are long term stability issues connected with these cells due to the liquid electrolytes normally used. Gel or solid polymer electrolytes which do not contain volatile solvents have been used in this investigation in order to alleviate these problems. Two types of solar cells were assembled using a double layered TiO 2 film sensitized with two types of dye sensitizers, namely N719 (Ruthenizer 535-bisTBA) and N3 (Ruthenizer 535) in order to compare their performance. Quasisolid-state electrolytes based on PAN (polyacrylonitrile) as the host polymer and CsI as the iodide salt were prepared by incorporating ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) as plasticizers. The conductivity of the electrolyte was further improved by adding tetrapropylammonium iodide (Pr 4 NI), 1-methyl 3-propyl imidazolium iodide (MPII) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (4TBP). The incorporation of these additives resulted in 17% enhancement in ionic conductivity. This improved electrolyte was used to fabricate the solar cells with N3 and N719 dyes. The efficiency of the N3 dye based solar cell was 3.85% whereas the efficiency of the N719 dye based solar cell was 4.14% representing a significant efficiency enhancement by 7.53% by the N719 dye. In addition, due to additives the solar cell efficiency has enhanced by 19% compared to the solar cell without any additive.

N719 Derivatives for Application in a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC): A Theoretical Study

“…In general, the following dye sensitizers are employed in DSSCs (maximum efficiency obtained is shown in parenthesis): metal–organic complexes (11%), metal-free organic dyes (10%), porphyrin dyes (12% in a co-sensitized processes), quantum-dot sensitizer (7.4%), and perovskite-based sensitizer (25%). − Regarding metal–organic complexes, most of the investigations are focused on the ruthenium complexes dyes (RuL 2 (NCS) 2 ) ( L = 2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid) and its tetrabutylammonium salt, named as N3 and N719, respectively. − In the case of the best performing DSSC reported before, a thin layer of nanocrystalline TiO 2 film was sensitized with ruthenium complex due to highly stable performance compared with that of other sensitizers.…”

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

“…Our target remains the N3 [12] and K8 [39] cells that differ in nature of the anchoring group. However, if we consider that the good performance of these two cells is, at least in part, because of the anchoring group (which also plays the role of acceptor group because of the attraction of electrons by the electronegative atoms), nothing at best of our knowledge indicates that the electrons injected into TiO 2 pass only through the chemical bonds involving the anchoring group [22,40].…”

Exploration on polypropylene carbonate polymer for gel polymer electrolyte preparation and dye‐sensitized solar cell application

“…O'Regan and Grätzel are the first researchers who have reported prototype of DSSCs in 1991, and since that time DSSCs are receiving much deserved attention. DSSCs are cost efficient, simple and easy to fabricate, as well as gives a good photovoltaic performance . Generally, electrolytes in DSSCs can be divided into three types: liquid, gel, and solid form.…”