Energy harvesting of dye-sensitized solar cells assisted with Ti-mesh and phosphor materials

Abstract

We used the Ti-meshes for both the photoanode and counter electrode of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to improve the flexibility and conductivity of electrodes. This mesh type electrode showed good transparency and high bendability when subjected to an external force. The overall efficiency of the best cells was approximately 5.3% under standard air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) solar condition. We also modified the TiO2 nanoparticle based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by depositing a layer of long-persistent phosphor SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ on top of the TiO2 nanoparticle layer to prepare working electrodes of DSSCs. SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ red-shifted short UV wavelengths into the main absorption range of the dye commonly used in DSSCs. The SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ layer also acted as a light-scattering layer to reduce the loss of visible light. An overall 13% improvement in the conversion efficiency of modified DSSCs was achieved due to the presence of the phosphor layer.