Effect of photoanode active area on photovoltaic parameters of dye sensitized solar cells through its effect on series resistance investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Abstract

In the present work, the dependence of photovoltaic parameters of laboratory-scale dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) on photoanode active area (A) and also the effect of using current collector on this dependency were investigated. Current collectors were applied, in the form of silver strips, on the edges of electrodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and current-voltage (I-V) curve measurement were employed as characterizing methods. The role of current collector was to decrease the resistance against current collection from the surface of electrodes and thus to decrease series resistance of DSSCs. It was observed that all photovoltaic parameters, i.e., short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (η), decrease with increasing A. Applying current collector had no influence on photovoltaic parameters of smallest DSSC, but it improved the performance of larger DSSCs. Also, applying current collector caused the photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs to be less dependent on A. It was shown that A dependence of photovoltaic parameters was due to the effect of A on area-specific series resistance (rs) of DSSC. Also, the effect of current collector on A dependency of photovoltaic parameters was due to its effect on A dependency of rs.