Photovoltaic effect of nanostructured TiO2 layers in dye sensitized solar cells

WOS: 000310498600009Metal-free organic sensitizer comprising donor, electron-conducting, and anchoring groups is engineered at a molecular level and synthesized for sensitization of mesoscopic titanium dioxide injection solar cells. The organic sensitizer anchored onto TiO2 and is tested in dye sensitized solar cell with a volatile electrolyte system. In order to see the TiO2 thickness dependence study of the triphenylene diamine based sensitizer on photovoltaic properties, we have fabricated dye sensitized solar cells having TiO2 films of various thicknesses. The efficiency increased with the thickness of TiO2 nanocrystalline layer; on the other hand, the photovoltage remained the same with increasing thickness. The increased surface area due to higher thickness of TiO2 film allows for better light harvesting, which however enhances the possibility for injected electrons to recombine with the oxidized redox species triiodide. TPD-sensitized solar cell devices using a 10 (transparent) + 4 (scattering) mu m thin TiO2 layer yielded a short-circuit photocurrent density of 7.70 mA/cm(2), an open-circuit voltage of 800 mV, and a fill factor of 0.54, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 3.34 % under standard AM 1.5 sun light.Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH)Alexander von Humboldt FoundationI thank the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) for supporting me scientifically. Also I thank Scientific Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). I thank Mechanical Engineer MSc. Cagatay ELA for his unending support and fruithful advices