A comparative study of optimization of solid state dye sensitized solar cell technologies for power grid integration and off-grid operation

Abstract

In this paper, the performance analyses of Solid State Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (SSDSSCs) are carried out with power grid integration and off-grid operation in the intertropical region being the main focus. It has been observed that electrodes of different compositions such as: TiO 2 and ZnO, surface morphology of the thin films used in SSDSSCs, use of different types of dyes as photo sensitizers, use of Nanorods/Nanoparticles as photoanodes — all correspond to different photoelectric conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in SSDSSCs. As the SSDSSCs are free of leakage and corrosion related problems prevalent in conventional liquid-based Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), it has the potential to lower the maintenance cost and improving longevity of a system, so far however SSDSSCs suffer from low PCEs when compared with conventional DSSCs, with a maximum efficiency record of approximately 15 per cent set in 2013 by using solid-state mesoscopic TiO 2 solar cells sensitized with lead iodide perovskite (CH3NH3PM3) pigments[1–4], in early 2014 which was further lifted to 16.7 per cent[26]. Careful selection of highly photosensitive dye in conjunction with proper nanotube photonic crystals can optimize the efficiency of SSDSSCs for the intertropicsl region.