Dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cells

Patent · Tue Aug 08 00:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6325310

Skotheim, T A

A low-cost dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cell is described comprised of a substrate of semiconductor with an ohmic contact on one face, a sensitizing dye adsorbed onto the opposite face of the semiconductor, a transparent thin-film layer of a reducing agent over the dye, and a thin-film layer of metal over the reducing agent. The ohmic contact and metal layer constitute electrodes for connection to an external circuit and one or the other or both are made transparent to permit light to penetrate to the dye and be absorbed therein for generating electric current. The semiconductor material chosen to be the substrate is one having a wide bandgap and which therefore is transparent; the dye selected is one having a ground state within the bandgap of the semiconductor to generate carriers in the semiconductor, and a first excited state above the conduction band edge of the semiconductor to readily conduct electrons from the dye to the semiconductor; the reducing agent selected is one having a ground state above the ground state of the sensitizer to provide a plentiful source of electrons to the dye during current generation and thereby enhance the generation; and the metal for the thin-film layer of metal is selected to have a Fermi level in the vicinity of or above the ground state of the reducing agent to thereby amply supply electrons to the reducing agent.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4105470
• OSTI ID: 6325310
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 1 Jun 1977; Other Information: PAT-APPL-802,399
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR CELLS
DESIGN
SENSITIZERS
DYES
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ENERGY GAP
REDUCING AGENTS
SCHOTTKY BARRIER DIODES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SUBSTRATES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
REAGENTS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion