US Pakistan Center for Advance Studies in Energy

(USPCAS-E)

“Improved Long-term Stability of Dye-

Sensitized Solar Cell by Zeolite & Gel
Polymer Additive in Electrolyte”
Presented By:
Name: Talha Noor
Registration Id: 363031
Presented to:
Dr. Kafait Ullah
 Content 1

• Brief Description /Abstract

• Level of Research already carried out on the proposed topic

• Reason/Justification for the selection of the topic

• Objectives

• Relevance to National needs

• Advantages

• Areas of Application

Supervisor to be Opted:
Dr. Nadia Shahzad (USPCAS-E, NUST)
 Brief Description /Abstract 2

• The most prospective low-cost PV technology is the third generation technology and it developed at the
end of the 1980s. After 25 years of intensive research, DSSCs are on the verge of commercialization as the
submodule efficiencies exceed 8.8%.

• A long-term stability of DSSCs at high temperature has remained as a major drawback to their penetration
into commercial sectors as solar cells are subjected to harsh temperature and humidity when operating in
the real conditions.

• There are several factors influencing the long-term stability of DSSCs. Among them, the incorporation of
liquid electrolytes in DSSC always possesses possibilities of the leakage and In addition, water intrusion in
DSSCs is another hindrance to achieve long-term stability which causes the dye molecules to detach from
photo anode via a hydrolysis due to weak TiO2 -dye interaction.

• I will be conducting my research to enhance the long term stability of dye-synthesized solar cell by
comparing the performance and stability of the DSSC individually using Zeolite and gel polymer as an
electrolyte.
*Zeolites are microporous, three dimensional crystalline
solid of aluminum silicate. The chemical formula of
zeolites is Na2Al2Si2O8. xH2O.
• Zeolite is preferred to be used as an additive because of its high porosity material and also contains
specific pores size which enhances the adsorption effect. The property of zeolite improves the light
scattering in DSSC which makes the light absorption better. Secondly, gel polymer is used because it may
reduce the leakage and evaporation of the solvent.
 Level of Research already carried out on the 3
proposed topic

• There are various steps and experiments are carried out

to improve the long term stability of the Dye-
synthesized solar cell which includes the addition of
different electrolytes which enhances the properties of
the electrolyte.
• The stability of DSSC is also improved by using
different sealing methods which includes laser sealing
method.
• There are also researches carried out in which the
solvent is excluded from the electrolyte.
 Objectives 4

• The objective of the research is to improve the long

term stability of dye-synthesized solar cell by
comparing the performance and stability of the DSSC
individually using Zeolite as electrolyte and gel
polymer as an electrolyte.
• Secondly, the stability of the solar cell will be
compared by combining both Zeolite and Gel-polymer
as electrolyte.
Reason/Justification for the selection of 5
the topic
• As world is shifting towards the renewable energy and we know that energy produced using conventional
fossil fuels has a great impact on the global climate change. A very known field in the renewable energy is
of photovoltaics.

• The most efficient PV technology is of silicon solar cells but they are expensive in production. The most
prospective low-cost PV technology is the third generation solar cells.

• After intensive research, DSSCs are on the verge of commercialization as the submodule efficiencies
exceed 8.8%. A long-term stability of DSSCs at high temperature has remained a major problem.

• Research gap in long term stability is the leakage of electrolyte if not properly sealed, and in pervious
researches materials like g-butyrolactone electrolyte are previously used which has increased stability to 10
years an the major problem was reaction and evaporation of electrolyte.

• Most of the time the electrolyte evaporates at high temperature with the passage of time which decrease the
stability and life time of the solar cell.
 Advantages 6

The advantages of using additives in DSSCs include

• cost effectiveness
• ease of fabrication.
• Increase in Stability.
• Decrease Degradation.
• Polymeric prevents leakage of electrolyte if the cell is
not properly sealed.
• Polymer gel act as a binder for the electrodes.
• Zeolite is compact and hence require less space
 Areas of Application 7

Applications as:

• Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) based on semi-

transparencies with colors.

• Architecture

• interior applications

• Electronic devices

• Portable power systems.

 References 10

 Maçaira, José, Luísa Andrade, and Adélio Mendes. “Laser Sealed Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Efficiency and Long Term
Stability.” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 157 (December 1, 2016): 134–38.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.05.016.
 Kato, Naohiko, Kazuo Higuchi, Hiromitsu Tanaka, Junji Nakajima, Toshiyuki Sano, and Tatsuo Toyoda. “Improvement
in Long-Term Stability of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell for Outdoor Use.” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 19th
International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference and Exhibition (PVSEC-19) Jeju, Korea, 9-13
November 2009, 95, no. 1 (January 1, 2011): 301–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2010.04.019.
 Sommeling, P. M, M Späth, H. J. P Smit, N. J Bakker, and J. M Kroon. “Long-Term Stability Testing of Dye-
Sensitized Solar Cells.” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, Proceedings of the Dye Solar Cell
Osaka ICP-21 Pre-symposium. Dedicated to Professor Shozo Yanagida on the occasion of his retirement, 164, no. 1
(June 1, 2004): 137–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2003.12.017.
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