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A selective co-sensitization approach to increase photon conversion efficiency and electron lifetime in dye-sensitized solar cells

Publication Type : Journal Article

Publisher : The Royal Society of Chemistry

Campus : Coimbatore

School : Center for Industrial Research and Innovation

Center : Center for Industrial Research and Innovation (ACIRI)

Department : Industrial Research & Innovation

Year : 2012

Abstract : Ruthenium-based C106 and organic D131 sensitizers have been judicially chosen for co-sensitization due to their complementary absorption properties and different molecular sizes. Co-sensitization yields a higher light-harvesting efficiency as well as better dye coverage to passivate the surface of TiO2. The co-sensitized devices C106 + D131 showed significant enhancement in the performance ([small eta] = 11.1%){,} which is a marked improvement over baseline devices sensitized with either D131 ([small eta] = 5.6%) or C106 ([small eta] = 9.5%). The improved performance of the co-sensitized cell is attributed to the combined enhancement in the short circuit current{,} open circuit voltage{,} and the fill-factor of the solar cells. Jsc is improved because of the complementary absorption spectra and favorable energy level alignments of both dyes; whereas{,} Voc is improved because of the better surface coverage helping to reduce the recombination and increase the electron life time. The origins of these enhancements have been systematically studied through dye desorption{,} absorption spectroscopy{,} and intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy investigations.

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