NEW TRENDS IN DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELL RESEARCH

摘要

Liquid junction DSCs have reached > 11% energy conversion efficiencies, whereas their solid-state equivalents using hole-conductors are moving towads 5% efficiency. Several new dyes for DSC, with improved light absorption and hydrophobic properties are now available, which include also pure organic dyes. The importance of self-assembly agents in rearranging the dye molecules on the surface of the photoelectrode and its notable consequences for the cell performance deserves attention. Several laboratories have recently reported their testing methods and experimental results on the long-term stability of DSC under various operating conditions. In achieving cell stability, several parameters and the choice of cell materials play vital roles. Multi-junction stacked (tandem) solar cells can increase the overall photovoltaic conversion efficiency by optimal utilization of the solar spectrum in individual cells. We have reported recently that a photovoltaic tandem cell comprising a nanocrystalline dye sensitized solar cell as a top cell for high energy photons and a copper indium gallium selenide thin film bottom cell for lower energy photons produces AM 1.5 solar to electric conversion efficiencies > 15%. The role of transparent conducting glass in deciding the efficiency of such tandem devices has been investigated. The presentation, which includes the recent progress on solid-sate DSC, will also provide an outlook on the immediate research goals in the field of DSC.