This document describes the components and operation of dye-sensitized solar cells. It discusses the key parts including TiO2 nanoparticles, light-absorbing dye molecules, redox electrolyte, and a platinum or carbon counter electrode. The document also provides details on fabricating the counter electrode using chronopotentiometry to electrodeposit platinum. Characterization of the counter electrodes is done using cyclic voltammetry to check their catalytic activity for redox reactions in the electrolyte. The full process for assembling and testing a dye-sensitized solar cell is outlined.
This document describes the components and operation of dye-sensitized solar cells. It discusses the key parts including TiO2 nanoparticles, light-absorbing dye molecules, redox electrolyte, and a platinum or carbon counter electrode. The document also provides details on fabricating the counter electrode using chronopotentiometry to electrodeposit platinum. Characterization of the counter electrodes is done using cyclic voltammetry to check their catalytic activity for redox reactions in the electrolyte. The full process for assembling and testing a dye-sensitized solar cell is outlined.
This document describes the components and operation of dye-sensitized solar cells. It discusses the key parts including TiO2 nanoparticles, light-absorbing dye molecules, redox electrolyte, and a platinum or carbon counter electrode. The document also provides details on fabricating the counter electrode using chronopotentiometry to electrodeposit platinum. Characterization of the counter electrodes is done using cyclic voltammetry to check their catalytic activity for redox reactions in the electrolyte. The full process for assembling and testing a dye-sensitized solar cell is outlined.
This document describes the components and operation of dye-sensitized solar cells. It discusses the key parts including TiO2 nanoparticles, light-absorbing dye molecules, redox electrolyte, and a platinum or carbon counter electrode. The document also provides details on fabricating the counter electrode using chronopotentiometry to electrodeposit platinum. Characterization of the counter electrodes is done using cyclic voltammetry to check their catalytic activity for redox reactions in the electrolyte. The full process for assembling and testing a dye-sensitized solar cell is outlined.
Get to counter-electrode (cathode) through the external circuit. I 3- 2e 3I 4. : Redox regeneration 3I -at the I3- 2counter-electrode e (oxidation). 5.
Counter electrode The counter electrode is one of the most important components of dssc, since 1.It has the function of reducing the oxidized mediator species 2. Transferring the electrons from load to electrolyte/Collecting the holes from the hole transporting material. 3.Sufficiently corrosion-resistant to electrolyte. 4.In equivalent circuit of dssc the counter electrode constant phase element, charge transfer resistance of counter electrode.
the choice of the counter electrode depends as
1. platinum is a precious metal 2.Carbon-based materials, and other platinum-free catalytic layers, deposited over different substrates, such as metal foils and plastic sheets are tried.
Carbon counter electrode dssc
Method for deposition of counter electrode
Pt was electrodeposited from a solution containing 10 mM
H2PtCl6 and 0.5 M KCl in a three-electrode cell with indium tin oxide (ITO) glass working electrode, Pt mesh auxiliary electrode, Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Technique used to deposit the pt using Chronopotentiometry
Chronopotentiometry Chronopotentiometry (CP) is the most basic constant current experiment where step current is applied across an electrochemical cell.The galvanostat uses a three electrode configuration. The basis of controlled current experiments is that a redox (electron transfer) reaction that must occur at the surface of the working electrode in order to support the applied current applications of this is constant current electrolysis such as electrodeposition
Pt deposition 10mM H2PtCl6.6H2o,10mM KCl are taken in 20 ml H2O to from a solution for electrodeposition of Pt .
Pt deposition for 150s using chronopotentiometry
pt deposition for 300s using chronopotentiometry
pt deposition for 600s using chronopotentiometry
Counter electrode characterization:CV Application of a reversing linear sweep If an electro active species is present we obtain a Faradaic current, summed to the background charging current I = IC+If
Counter electrode
Good catalytic activity for triiodide to iodide conversion
Low resistance Pt Au Carbon WO2
Nb2O5 Cobalt
CV E = (Epa + Epc)/2
Ep = Epa - Epc = 59mV/n
The deposited pt are checked for the
catalytic activity by cv in the solution of 10mM LiI, 1mM I, 0.1mM LiClO4 in 25 ml acetonitrile
Counter electrode characterization
Cv of pt deposited (600s)
Cv of pt deposited (600s)
Cv of aluminium doped zno coated glass substrate
Carbon counter electrode
We also prepared carbon counter electrode by depositing carbon on tco glass we prepared two carbon glass plate by depositng carbon for 10 second dark and 2 second light deposit.and took cv for checking catalytic activity of carbon coted counter electrode.
Cv Carbon thick deposition for 10 second
Cv Carbon thin deposition for 2 second
Fabrication of dssc Procedure: Add 1 gram of TiO2 (in 1 ml H2O) of a drop of acetic acid (ph3-4) in a mortar and pestle. Grinding for 30 minutes will produce a lump free paste. 1 drop of a surfactant is then added (mercapta propanoic acid).
Semiconductor electrode
Support for dye adsorption
Wide bandgap semiconductor High surface area Good electron conductivity Low recombination Nanoparticles Nanotubes Double layer ZnO
Way towards higher efficiency
Better light absorber
Solid electrolyte Cheaper Counter electrode material Suitable electrode Simple and cheap TCO material Higher efficiency to be suitable for production in large scale
Coating the Cell
After testing to determine which side is conductive, one of the glass slides is then masked off 12 mm on THREE sides with masking tape. This is to form a mold. A couple of drops if the titanium dioxide suspension is then added and distributed across the area of the mold with a glass rod. The slide is then set aside to dry for one minute.
After the first slide has dried the tape
can be removed. The titanium dioxide layer needs to be heat sintered and this can be done by using a hot air gun that can reach a temperature of at least 450 degrees Celsius. This heating process should last 30 minutes.
Dye Absorption and Coating the
Counter Electrode
Allow the heat sintered slide to cool
to room temperature. Once the slide has cooled, place the slide face down in the filtered dye and allow the dye to be absorbed for 5 or more minutes.
While the first slide is soaking,
determine which side of the second slide is conducting. Place the second slide over an open flame and move back and forth. This will coat the second slide with a carbon catalyst layer
Assembling the Solar Cell
After the first slide had
absorbed the dye, it is quickly rinsed with ethanol to remove any water. It is then blotted dry with tissue paper. Quickly, the two slides are placed in an offset manner together so that the layers are touching. Binder clips can be used to keep the two slides together. One drop of a liquid iodide/iodine solution is then added between the slides. Capillary action will stain the entire inside of the slides
Preparation of Electrolyte Solution
Electrolyte solution 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Measure out 25-ml of acetonitrile.
Weigh out 0.317-g of I2 or 0.05mM, add it to the acetonitirle and stir. Weigh out 1.6731 g of LiI 0.5mM and add it to the same. Stir and sore in a dark container with a tight lid. 0.3mM N3 dye was taken and added to 10ml ethanol. N3 RuL(NCS) (L=2,2-bipyridyl-4,4-dicarboxylic acid)
References Electrochimica Acta 51 (2006) 38143819 Electrodeposited Pt for cost-efficient and flexible dye-sensitized solar cells Seok-Soon Kim, Yoon-Chae Nah, YongYoung Noh, Jang Jo, Dong-Yu Kim Dye-sensitized solar cells Michael Grtzel Laboratory for Photonics and Interfaces, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews 4 (2003) 145153 Takechi, K., Muszynski, R., Kamat, PV. Fabrication procedure of dye-sensitized solar cells (http://www.nd.edu/~pkamat/pdf/solarcell.pdf) B. ORegan, M. Grtzel, Nature 335 (1991) 737; M. Grtzel, Nature 414 (2001) 338344. http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_Chemistry/Instrumental_Analysis/Cyclic_ Voltammetry http://www.basinc.com/mans/EC_epsilon/Techniques/CPot/cp.html
