Photochemical Solar Cells Based on Dye-Sensitization of Nanocrystalline TiO2
A photoelectrochemical solar cell that is based on the dye-sensitization of thin nanocrystalline films of TiO2 (anatase) nanoparticles in contact with a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is described. The cell, fabricated at NREL, shows a conversion efficiency of -9.2% at AM1.5, which approaches the best reported value of 10%-11% by Grtzel at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. The femtosecond (fs) pump-probe spectroscopy has been used to time resolve the injection of electrons into the conduction band of nanocrystalline TiO2 films under ambient conditions following photoexcitation of the adsorbed Ru(11)-complex dye. The measurement indicates an instrument-limited -50 fs upper limit on the electron injection time. We also report the sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 by a novel iron-based dye, CIS-[Fe 11 (2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid)2 (CN)2], a chromophore with an extremely short-lived, nonemissive excited state. The dye also exhibits a unique"band selective" sensitization through one of its two absorption bands. The operational principle of the device has been studied through the measurement of electric field distribution within the device structure and studies on the pH dependence of dye-redox potential. The incorporation of WO3 -based electrochromic layer into this device has led to a novel photoelectrochromic device structure for"smart window" application.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-99-GO10337
- OSTI ID:
- 15003788
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-590-25056; TRN: US201015%%99
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the 2nd World Conference and Exhibition on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion; 6-10 July 1998; Vienna, Austria
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION
DISTRIBUTION
DYES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRONS
EXCITED STATES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SPECTROSCOPY
TITANIUM OXIDES
SOLAR CELL
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL
DYE-SENSITIZATION
THIN NANOCRYSTALLINE FILMS
TIO2 (ANATASE) NANOPARTICLES
NON-AQUEOUS LIQUID ELECTROLYTE
Solar Energy - Photovoltaics