Evaluation of the Charge-Collection Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Nanocrystalline TiO2 Solar Cells

Abstract

Intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) and intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) are used to evaluate the charge-collection efficiency of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells. The charge-collection efficiency of the photoinjected electrons from dye sensitization is estimated from the respective time constants for charge recombination at open circuit τoc and the combined processes of charge collection and charge recombination at short circuit τsc obtained by IMVS and IMPS measurements. Three models are developed for relating the charge-collection efficiency to τoc/τsc. The first model determines the charge-collection efficiency from τoc/τsc without considering the underlying physical processes measured by IMVS and IMPS. The second model obtains τoc/τsc by simulating the frequency response of IMVS and IMPS from the time-dependent continuity equation for simplified conditions. The third model determines the time constants for IMVS and IMPS from electron-concentration p...