Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using TiO2 as a Semiconducting Layer

Abstract

The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is one of the photochemical electric cells, which consists of the photoelectrode, the dye, the electrolyte, and the counter electrode. The advantage of DSSCs is the low cost of the solar energy conversion into electricity because of inexpensive materials and the relative ease of the fabrication processes. In this work, DSSCs were prepared using TiO2 as a semiconducting layer with twenty natural and eight chemical dyes. Thin films of TiO2 were spread on transparent conducting FTO coated glass using doctor blade method. The absorption spectra of all dyes were performed. The J-V characteristic curves of the fabricated cells were measured and studied at different light intensities. All photovoltaic parameters of the cells were presented. The results revealed that the extract of Mirabelle plums and Eosin Y lead to the highest efficiency. Impedance spectroscopy was measured for three cells with natural dyes and the equivalent circuit was found. The Ziziphus jujuba is the best natural dye were use, has values Jsc of 3.90 mA/cm2 , Voc of 0.661 V , Pmax=1.239 mW, F.F =0.480, and η = 1.032%. The best performance was obtained for cell dyed with chemical dye Eosin Y which has the following results, Jsc = 1.23 mA/cm2, Voc=0.63 V, Pmax= 0.44 mW/cm2, F.F=0.52, and η =0.34%.