Chapters authored
Effect of Combination of Natural Dyes and the Blocking Layer on the Performance of DSSC
Over the years, researchers have been working on replacing sensitized dye for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC), because of its low production cost, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. However, the overall performance of natural dye-based DSSCs is low compared to the DSSCs sensitized with Ruthenium based dyes. The combination of natural dyes with an optimized choice of the extracting solvents and the proper volume ratio of mixture of the dyes, enhances inherent properties, such as absorption and adsorption of the dyes. It also allows the device to utilize photon energy more efficiently over the entire visible wavelength. As a result, DSSC sensitized with the dye mixture shows higher absorbance, and cumulative absorption properties over the whole visible region than the DSSC fabricated with individual dyes and showed higher photocurrent. Another effective way to improve cell efficiency is by using a blocking layer. The blocking layer increases the photocurrent, is mainly due to the improvement of the electron recombination at the transparent conducting oxide/electrolyte interfaces. Also, the blocking layer’s compact structure creates an effective pathway for electron transportation; thus, the device’s photocurrent increases. Additionally, a slight improvement in the open-circuit voltage and fill factor was observed, thus cell efficiency enhances significantly. By both the proper ratio of dye mixture and the blocking layer improves cell performance of DSSC and opens a new pathway for future studies.
Part of the book: Solar Cells
Improvement of Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells by Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have aroused intense attention over the past three decades owing to their low cost, inexpensive raw materials, simple fabrication process, and employment of eco-friendly materials. Recently, to take advantage of their lower electrical resistance, excellent electrocatalytic operation, mechanical integrity, low cost, and flexibility, carbon nanotubes CNTs have been incorporated into DSSCs with a view to improve the efficiency further. CNT can be used in the anode, electrolyte, and counter electrode. The incorporation of CNTs into the anode’s semiconductor material decreases the host material’s resistance and increases thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and durability. CNTs in ionic liquids have been investigated as a potential alternative for traditional liquid electrolytes for DSSC application because of low viscosity, low vapor pressure, high diffusion coefficient, high electrochemical, and thermal stability. CNT based counter electrode has attracted considerable interest because of its fast electron transfer kinetics and large surface area. This book chapter provides an insight into the fabrication of DSSCs by incorporating CNT and its effects on cell conversion efficiencies.
Part of the book: Solar Cells