Rapid dye-sensitized solar cell working electrode preparation using far infrared rapid thermal annealing

摘要

TiO_2 nanopowder sintering during dye-sensitized solar cell working electrode preparation usually takes hours and is the rate-limiting step to rapid production of dye-sensitized solar cells. Here, we show that by far infrared rapid thermal annealing (RTA) method, TiO_2 working electrode sintering time reduces from hours to minutes. 5 min binders/solvents removal time at 250 ℃ plus 10 min sintering time at 500 ℃ in a RTA system gives a cell with the efficiency of 4.37%. Although the rapid removal of binders/solvents causes the TiO_2 film structure collapsing and gives a more compact working electrode structure, the far infrared RTA method directly radiates TiO_2 layer giving binders/solvents removal and sintering within minutes and is ideal for rapid DSSC fabrication.