Dye sensitised nanocrystalline solar cells

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 95.0703
• Projekttitel Englisch: Dye sensitised nanocrystalline solar cells

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Dye sensitization; electricity generation; nanocrystalline injection solar cell

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: JOR3-CT96-0107

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 5.1 Nonnuclear energies

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

UCD, UUS, FHI, UUS, UFI, EPFL

Abstract (Englisch)

The group at EPFL has improved the quality of the charge transfer sensitizers used in the nanocrystalline injection cell. Adequate methods for preparing and purifying the standard charge transfer dye cis(SCN)2Ru(II)L2, (L = 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'dicarboxylate), abbreviated thereafter N3, have been elaborated. In addition, a new black dye, i.e. RuL'(SCN)3, where L' stands for 4,4' ,4''-tricarboxy-2,2' ,6' ,2'' -terpyridine showing enhanced near IR response has been developed. The aim of the Swiss partner was to produce solar cells with an overall conversion efficiency of 12% in full AM 1.5 solar light and to determine the long term stability of presently used cell configurations. At this stage, an efficiency of 11% has been reached with the N3 sensitizer and confirmed by the ISE/Fraunhofer Institute in Freiburg, Germany. Substituting N3 by the black dye increases the short circuit photocurrent by 15% while maintaining the same open circuit voltage and fill factor. Long term light soaking tests performed over 14'OOO hours have established that the system does not exhibit any inherent instability in contrast to amorphous silicon which due to the Stabler-Wronski effect undergoes photo-degradation. Given these encouraging results, it is felt that the essential project goals have been reached.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 95.0703