Influence of ceramic counter electrode on the properties of dye sensitized solar cell

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells consisting of a sandwich structure have been a topic outspread in the science for above twenty years and they start a new development trend in obtaining energy from the sun. One the examined aspects of their application is building-integrated photovoltaics. Despite the fact that the higher efficiency of energy conversion was obtained with this type of substrate, glass, due to the cost of production and energy consumption, is disadvantageous in the case of production on an industrial scale. The article presents the possibility of replacing a classic glass substrate with an counter electrode based on a building ceramic tile material. A dye sensitized solar cell was built layer by layer on the tile. A method of atomization was used to deposit fluorine doped tin oxide. After that, a thin layer of platinum was printed. It does not require the use of high temperatures, complicated devices and high costs. Scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope and Raman spectroscopy were used to evaluate the influence of the transparent conductive oxide layer on the photovoltaic properties of counter electrode tile. Electrical parameters of as prepared DSSCs with and without ceramic tile were characterized by measurements of current-voltage characteristics under standard AM 1.5 radiation. A dye sensitized solar cell integrated with building ceramic tile material was prepared successfully, which efficiency was over 4%.