Outdoor characterization of dye solar cells: first results

The Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE) at the University of Rome Tor Vergata is focusing its efforts in developing reliable and stable dye solar cells and modules. The CHOSE development program foresees that new cells and modules will be tested both indoor and outdoor in order to have an overview of the real performances of the devices. This is generally a key point for a correct evaluation of the actual performances of any photovoltaic technology. In October 2008 an outdoor measurement campaign on Dye Solar Cells has been started. Two different types of cells have been built in the laboratory, varying the characteristics of the TiO2 film, in order to evaluate their behaviour in real outdoor environment. Data collected during the two first month of outdoor cell exposure are presented in this paper. Daily trends of cell efficiency as a function of the environmental parameters and of the cell temperature have been investigated, focusing on the cell behaviour at low irradiance levels