Temperature dependence and the oscillatory behavior of the opto-electronic properties of a dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cell

Abstract

Abstract A dye-sensitized TiO 2 solar cell was developed and characterized. The I – V (current–voltage) characteristics were studied at different temperatures from −40°C to 80°C. The opto-electronic properties of the cell depend on factors like ambient temperature and the time constants of the redox processes at the cell interfaces. The temperature dependence of V oc and I sc were clearly demonstrated. I sc increased with increasing temperature above room temperature, where as V oc increased with decreasing temperature below room temperature. The opto-electronic properties showed oscillatory behavior especially at low temperatures, which may be attributed to the different velocities of the redox processes occurring at the TiO 2 /dye, dye/electrolyte and the electrolyte/counter electrode interfaces.