Title: Nanocrystalline TiO₂ solar cells contributing to the national energy generation

Authors: M.O. Khayyat, M.A. Hamed, M.M. Al-Bassyiouni

Addresses: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA. ' Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, KAAU, P.O. Box 80204, Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Mechanical Engineering Dept., University of Maryland, MD 20742, USA

Abstract: The production of electricity from photovoltaics continues to attract worldwide interest as a power source for distributed energy generation. This paper illustrates the breadth of photovoltaic technology and a range of issues that need to be addressed in the process of achieving economical conversion of solar radiation to electricity. It focuses the dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) using nanocrystalline TiO₂, which provide a promising alternative concept to conventional p-n junction photovoltaic devices. The technique of sol-gel derived TiO₂ coating on a glass substrate is described, and SEM micrographs of the prepared film samples of nanoparticles are presented. A thorough analysis of challenges associated with solid-state DSSCs and several ways towards higher efficiency and reliability and lower cost are demonstrated. In addition, it outlines a research aiming at enabling nanocrystalline TiO₂ solar cells to be a significant contributor to national energy generation.

Keywords: dye-sensitised solar cells; DSSCs; nanocrystalline TiO2; photovoltaics; nanomanufacturing; energy generation; nanotechnology; titanium dioxide; solar energy; solar power; electricity; nanoparticles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2009.028117

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2/3/4, pp.108 - 116

Published online: 07 Sep 2009 *

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