Dye-sensitised solar cells using TiO₂ nanoparticles: a review
by J.P. Vyjayanthi; K. Sekar; M. Thiagarajan
International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology (IJRET), Vol. 6, No. 1, 2015

Abstract: Over the past two decades, several research papers have been published on dye-sensitised solar cells ever since its conception was first reported in 1991. This paper discusses their basic principle, fabrication in the laboratory and developments, based on results reported in literature. The various factors which stand in favour and against their commercialisation and their characterisation by techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive analysis have also been discussed. DSSC consists of a porous-structured nanocrystalline semiconductor coating electrode. Adsorbed dye molecules act as the photosensitised anode while a platinised fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass acts as the counter electrode. An electrolyte acts as a conductor to electrically connect the two electrodes. The sensitising dye in a DSSC is anchored to a wide-bandgap semiconductor such as TiO₂, SnO₂ or ZnO. When the dye absorbs light, the photoexcited electron rapidly transfers to the conduction band of the semiconductor, which carries the electron to one of the electrodes. A redox couple, usually comprised of iodide/triiodide (I^-/I₃^-), then reduces the oxidised dye back to its neutral state and transports the positive charge to the platinised counter-electrode.

Online publication date: Wed, 18-Mar-2015

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology (IJRET):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com