Five Strip-Type Dye Sensitized Solar Cells with Metal Grid Lines

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have great potential alternative to expensive conventional solar cells, since high efficiency and relatively simple fabrication process. However, in large size cell, there is a key factor that delayed the entry of such cells in commercial market. Performance of large size cell is lower than small size cells, since a carrier loss occurs in high resistive TCO glass substrate. Here we demonstrate a simple method to reduce resistive loss and efficient collection of photo generated carriers via strip type cells with metal grids. Using strip type cells, we constitute series and parallel type DSSC panels in order to achieve required voltage and current respectively. Stripe cells were prepared from commercial TiO2 powder by screen printing method. In addition, metal grids were established adjacent to sealant line. Using these as unit cell, portable DSSC panels were assembled and I-V performance was carried out in indoor light condition (fluorescent light, 30mW/cm2) and standard condition (Pin 100 mW/cm2, AM 1.5).