Functional Materials

Lecture 10

DSSC: Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Dr. Faisal Shahzad

 DSSC: Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

 Dye sensitized solar cells (DSScs) convert solar energy into electrical energy.

 In a DSSc, electrons are originated from a dye when it absorbs light

 The dye contains a conjugated system (alternating single and double bond) that
absorbs light in the visible spectrum

 In a DSSC, a monolayer of sensitizing dye is adsorbed onto a mesoporous

TiO2 electrode, and the electrode is sandwiched together with a counter electrode.
An electrolyte containing a redox couple fills the gap between the electrodes.

 Manufacturing of DSCs is simple, mostly low cost, and incorporate environmentally friendly
materials. They have a good efficiency (about 10-14 %) even under low flux of sunlight.
 DSSC: Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
DSSCs are typically constructed with two sheets of conductive transparent
materials, which help a substrate for the deposition of the semiconductor and
catalyst, acting also as current collectors.

 There are two main characteristics of a substrate being used in a DSSC: Firstly,
more than 80% of transparency is required by the substrate to permit the passage
of optimum sunlight to the effective area of the cell. 

 Secondly, for the efficient charge transfer and reduced energy loss in DSSCs, it
should have a high electrical conductivity. 

 The fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO, SnO2:F) and indium-doped tin oxide/Tin doped
indium oxide (ITO) (ITO, In2O3: SnO2 => 90% In2O3, 10% SnO2)are usually applied
as a conductive substrate in DSSCs. These substrates consist of soda lime glass
coated with the layers of indium-doped tin oxide and fluorine-doped tin oxide. The
ITO films have a transmittance > 80% and 18 Ω/cm2 of sheet resistance, while
FTO films show a lower transmittance of ~ 75% in the visible region and sheet
resistance of 8.5 Ω/cm2
 Construction of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Anode
 The anode of a DSC consists of a glass plate which is coated with a transparent conductive oxide
(TCO) film. Indium tin oxide (ITO) or fluorine doped tin oxide are most widely used. A thin layer
of titanium dioxide (TiO2) is applied on the film. The semiconductor exhibits a high surface area
because of its high porosity.
Dye
 The anode is soaked with a dye solution which bonds to the TiO2. The dye – also called
photosensitizers – is mostly a ruthenium complex or various organic metal free compounds. One
can use plain fruit juice (such as from blackberries or pomegranates) can be used. They contain
pigments which are also able to convert light energy into electrical energy.

Cathode & Electrolyte

 The cathode of a DSC is a glass plate with a thin Pt film
which serves as a catalyst. An iodide/triiodide solution is
used as the electrolyte.
 Both electrodes are pressed together and sealed so that
the cell does not leak. An external load can be powered
when light shines on the anode of the dye solar cell.
Construction of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
 Principle of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell
STEP 1: The dye molecule is initially in its
ground state (S). The semiconductor
material of the anode is at this energy level
(near the valence band) non‑conductive.

When light shines on the cell, dye molecules

get excited from their ground state to a higher
energy state (S*)

The excited dye molecule has now a higher

energy content and overcomes the band gap of
the semiconductor.
 Principle of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell
STEP 2: The excited dye molecule (S*) is
oxidized (see equation 2) and loses an
electron. This electron is injected into the
conduction band of the
semiconductor. Electrons can now move
freely as the semiconductor is conductive
at this energy.

Electrons are then transported to the current

collector of the anode via diffusion processes.  An
electrical load can be powered if connected.
 Principle of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell
STEP 3: The oxidized dye molecule (S+) is
again regenerated by electron donation
from the redox pair in the electrolyte e.g.
iodide and tri-iodide [I- =I3-] redox pairs. In
this way, the dye molecule is regenerated.

STEP 4: In addition, iodide and the redox

mediator in the electrolyte travel to the CE
and are regenerated on the cathode by
reducing to tri-iodide.
 Key characteristics of Dye (Photosensitizer)

 Strong absorption at visible region and near-IR

 Anchoring group to strongly bind onto semiconductor surface (-COOH, -
H2PO3 , -SO3H, etc.)
 Excited state energy E(S*) > Ec
 Redox potential of oxidized dye more +ve than electrolyte
 photothermally and electrochemically stable.
 Key characteristics of Electrolyte
 In DSSCs, an electrolyte based on a tri-iodide/iodide (I−3/I−) mediator provides the
best electrochemical efficiency and is widely utilized with a metal catalyst. However,
this electrolyte is extremely corrosive to the metal film catalyst of a CE. Reducing the
corrosive activity of iodide by using the highly stable catalyst materials is therefore a
key to realizing the full potential of an I−3/I− electrolyte. The use of an organic
disulfide/thiolate (T2/T−) electrolyte has also been investigated because of its high
transmittance and low corrosivity; it exhibits higher efficiency and stability than the
conventional I−3/I− electrolyte.

 Pt-based CEs exhibit the best electrochemical efficiency, but Pt is expensive. Materials, such
as conductive allotropes of carbon, graphite, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, as well as
amorphous and diamond-like and graphite-like carbon composite films have also significantly
been used.

 Several essential characteristics for high electrolyte efficiency are that the redox
potential of the electrolyte should be negative compared to oxidation potential of the
dye sensitizer and have high conductivity (*10-3 S.cm-1 ), sufficient interfacial contact
with the dye layer, long-term physical and chemical stability, and minimum
absorption of light in visible range.
 Key characteristics of Counter Electrode

Advanced Functional Materials for Counter Electrodes

 Use of low-cost materials, such as carbon-based materials, metal oxides, metal

carbides, metal sulfides, conductive polymers, and natural products.
 Use of low-cost, facile synthesis, and fabrication processes based on screen
printing, doctor-blade application, hydrothermal deposition, and annealing
processes.
 Use of cocatalyst materials as well as more active catalytic sites; that is,
incorporating composites and dopants.
 Challenges in DSSC

 Unproductive pathway (→ lower η)

 Relaxation of dye molecule at excited state
 Recombination of ein CB or TCO with electrolyte or
oxidized dye
 Trapping of e in semiconductor

Strategies in optimizing DSSC

 Increase light absorbance
 Increase ΔV (by raising Ec or redox potential of electrolyte)
 Reduce recombination
 Reduce internal resistance (TCO, porosity of semiconductor
and electrolyte)
 Achieve high stability and turnover of dye and electrolyte
Dye combinations

The EPFL used this approach to achieve the new efficiency record, taking advantage of
the combined dyes to develop a cell that can absorb a larger portion of the light
spectrum. Finding the right combination of dyes that can achieve high light absorption
and conversion efficiency was the key challenge for the group, requiring a lengthy
process of molecular design, synthesis and screening.
 Assignment

 Prepare a home-made DSSCs.

 Explain how efficiency of DSSCs is assessed.