Comparison of charge accumulation and transport in nanostructured dye-sensitized solar cells with electrolyte or CuSCN as hole conductor

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 88; no. 4; pp. 351 - 362
• Main Authors: Mahrov, Boriss, Hagfeldt, Anders, Lenzmann, Frank, Boschloo, Gerrit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.09.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Dye-sensitized; efficiency; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy; oxide; photocurrent; photovoltage; Photovoltaic conversion; Photovoltaic devices; recombination; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; spectroscopy; Solar cells; Dye-sensitized; Photovoltaic devices; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Open circuit; Transport properties; Oxide layer; Nanostructure; Charge transport; Thin film; Luminous intensity; Copper Cyanides; Titanium oxide; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2004.11.006

The charge transport properties of the dye-sensitized solar cells consisting of Ru(dcbpyH 2) 2(NCS) 2-sensitized nanostructured TiO 2 with either redox electrolyte or CuSCN as hole conductor have been compared. The electron transport time and the electron charge in the TiO 2 varies in a similar way with the incident light intensity for both hole conductors: electron transport becomes faster and electron accumulation increases with increasing light intensity. Electron transport in the CuSCN-based cells is significantly faster than in electrolyte cells under conditions where the accumulated charge is equal. An ultra-thin aluminum oxide layer on the nanocrystalline titanium oxide has a beneficial effect as it reduces the recombination and increases the open-circuit potential.