Title : Research of dye synthesis photovoltaic cells (DSSC) with photoanodes from ceramic nanowfibers
Abstract:
The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) shows interesting parameters, both due to the high achieved efficiency and the utilities property, among others the possibility of producing large-format flexible devices. DCCS cells can be considered as layered structures in which each layer influences the operation of the entire system.
One of the most important elements determining the efficiency of this kind of cells is the photoanode which should provide: as the greatest surface area, fast electron transport, low interfacial of electron recombination,
Nowadays the research on photoelectrodes are intensively taken. The most important research concerns reduction of the density of the surface states and increase the electron mobility increasing at the same the decreasing the charge recombination.
Considering the above, the authors focused on the production of anodes of DSSC devices from ZnO ceramic nanofibers by using highly specialized electrospinning method.
The purpose of the work include the produced photoanodes from nanofibers which gives the opportunity to obtain significant surface area while maintaining the highest possible electron transport and low electron recombination.
The innovation of the subject is based on the use of the previously non utilizing form of photoanode material and the determination of its impact on the efficiency of the cells.
The produced photoanodes have been deposited substrates in form of glass tiles with a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) layer indicates surface resistivity 10 [Ω / ?]. Nanofibers materials have been applied with use electrospinning on a glass/FTO substrate and heated. On the thus prepared surface organic dye was embedded.
The structure and surface morphology of the created films, have been determined by atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). By use AFM were taken topographic studies with the quantification of the expansion of the surface of the anode, Research conducting by SEM have been used to determine morphology of the surface and chemical composition of the material.
Investigations of optical properties of individual photovoltaic cell layers were made using the UV-Vis spectrophotometer equipped with a xenon lamp with a wavelength range from 190 to 1110 nm. Absorbance A of layers deposited on a glass/FTO measured before and after dye deposition. Current - voltage characteristics were to determine the basic photovoltaic parameters using a dedicated device.
The tests confirm the possibility of using an innovative material of nanofibers in order to increase the surface area of the photoanodes, while maintaining appropriate structure and electrical and optical properties, and thus to increase the expected efficiency of cells. The research of nanofibers as photoanodes indicates promising direction for the development of DSSC.
Audience take away:
• Appropriate development of parameters for the production of individual elements of DSSC cells will increase their efficiency.
• The use of electrospinning as a method of producing elements of DSSC makes it possible to use the specific structure of manufactured structures and the new materials.
• The use of ceramic nanowires as photoanode material in DSSC causes an increase of the surface area, which in turn affects the amount of the absorbed dye and the efficiency of the cell.
• The use of the electrospinning method for producing electrodes in DSSC is to increase their homogeneity as well as reproducibility of their production.
