Chapter 5 - Nanocrystalline Solar Cells

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on nanocrystalline solar cells. It discusses the various types of nanocrystalline solar cell, explains their mode and mechanism of operation, and gives some examples of such cells. It discusses liquid junction semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSSCs) that have many similarities to the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), but also have some important differences. The DSSC has led not only to a solar cell that is in the early stages of commercialization, but to much interesting physics and debate on the nature of its operation. In addition, it has spawned several other types of cell that, to a greater or lesser extent, share some of this interesting (and sometimes controversial) physics. The chapter also discusses solid state SSSCs, more commonly known as “ETA cells.” ETA cells are separated into two main types – three-component and two-component cells. The three-component cell is conceptually more similar to the liquid junction SSSC, with the difference of using a solid hole conductor instead of a liquid electrolyte.