Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell: Design and Application
Mohammad Nazmul Hossain, Shahman Raoful Islam, Md. Tariqul Islam, Hasan Uz Zaman
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University
Plot # 15, Block # B, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
n.hossain992@gmail.com, priosteel@gmail.com, tariqulislamtapu@gmail.com,
hasan.zaman@northsouth.edu
AbstractThe search of various green sources for power or
energy generation is one of the most frequent researches in
engineering. The scientists and engineers are now looking for
various sources of power generation The storage of fossil fuel
supply is decreasing every year. So in this situation, engineers
must search for new sources of power generation. One option
is to look for that source in renewable energy technologies. In
countries like Bangladesh, the best option is solar power. Dye-
Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) is a very good counterpart for
conventional PV cell. This is because PV cell needs large
space, better sun tracking system and good sun angle. In
contrast, DSSC can be fixed at any place with minimum
sunlight and sun angle problems. Fabrication is easier and cost
is much lower. Its performance increases with temperature. It
has a bi-facial configuration (advantage of diffuse light)
transparency for power windows. We wanted to test out a new
cost-efficient technology that could provide green energy to
the masses, and find out if it would be feasible for developing
countries like Bangladesh. We are quite content with our
experimental results and think that it will be a good alternative
to traditional silicon based solar cells.
Index TermsMesoporous, Nano crystal, Iodolyte, sensitized-
dye, TiO2, platinum(Pt).
I. INTRODUCTION
The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been proven to
have a good chance to become a notable competitor for solar
cells based on todays technology of p-n junction. The
principle of operation of DSSC solar cells in comparison with
conventional semiconductor solar cells where light absorption
and charge carrier transport are done by the semiconductor is
different. In DSSC these two tasks are separate. Charge
separation is done by photo-induced injection to the conduction
band and such created carriers are transported to charge
collector. By using dyes which have broad absorption band, the
solar cell is capable to harvest large fraction of sunlight. In this
paper the basic construction and mode of operation of solar
cells based on dyes is described.
As the storage of a fossil supply is decreasing every year
that the mankind must look for another source of energy. One
option is to look for that source in renewable energy
technologies such as wind or solar power. The sun is a primary
source of energy on the earth. Fully grasping the power of the
sun we can improve our way of life, reduce our dependence on
fossil fuels. Every year the use of solar energy technologies is
increasing in the world. It provides people with the energy to
heat the house (solar thermal energy) or change solar energy
right to electricity (photovoltaics) and decrease the dependence
on the other sources of power.
There are several techologies in this generation. One of
them is Quantum Dot(QD) Solar Cells. These are built up of a
semiconductor(silicon) coated with a very thin layer of
quantum dots. Quantum dots is just a fancy name of crystals in
the size range typically a few nanometers in diameter. These
crystals are mixed into a solution and placed on a piece of
silicon which is rotated really fast. The crystals are then spread
out due to the centrifugal force. The reason these quantum dots
are given so much attention is that normally one photon will
excite one electron creating one electron-hole pair. The energy
loss is the original energy of the photon minus the energy
needed to excite the electron(also called the band gap)
However, when a photon hits a quantum dot made of the same
material, there may be several electron-hole pairs created,
typically 2-3, but 7 has been observed.
Another way to increase the efficiency is to use several
layers solar cells with different band gaps in a stack. Each layer
will utilise light with different wavelengths, and in this way we
can get cells with a higher efficiency.
II. BACKGROUND
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are a strong contender for
next-generation solar-cell technology. In particular, their
transparent and low-cost nature affords them niche prospects
for electricity-generating windows that will equip buildings for
energy-sustainable future cities. Despite their vast industrial
potential, DSC innovations are being held up by a lack of
suitable light-harvesting dye chemicals for these photo
electrochemical devices.
Our research focuses on materials discovery of new classes
of dyes, using a 'design-to-device' approach. The design
element predicts new dyes at the molecular level, using data
science via large-scale data-mining and in silicon
computational methods. The predicted materials are then
manufactured and tested in DSC devices. The device results
are fed back into our algorithms as a positive feedback-loop for
further dye discovery.
 A range of materials characterization efforts support this
dye discovery by establishing structure-property relationships
in case studies of DSC dyes which explain their underlying
physics and chemistry. These relationships are grafted into
algorithms that feed into the knowledge-base of dye discovery.
III. STRUCTURE OF DSSCS
DSSC has multilayer which consists of four components it
includes a photo electrode with a thin layer of nanostructured
wide band-gap semiconductor (usually TiO2 ) attached to the
conducting substrate (TCO),a monolayer of dye adsorbed on
the surface of the above semiconductor, electrolyte (typically I-
/I3- ) and a counter electrode (platinized FTO). The schematic
diagram of the DSSC is as shown in figure 1.
Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the dye-sensitized solar cell
IV. CONSTRUCTION AND MODE OF OPERATION
The support substrate can be glass or flexible plastic
substrate. The support substrate must be transparent where the
light is coupled into the cell through it. The anode electrode is
made of a thin film of a transparent, conducting material,
which is deposited on the inner side of the support substrate. In
this case indium thin oxide (ITO) semiconductor is widely
used. Although other semiconductors such as fluorine-doped
thin oxide (SnO2:F) can be used as well. The real photo anode
is formed by a porous film of Nano crystalline semiconductor
(TiO2). These films are usually few micrometers thick
(between 1- 10 m) and can be fabricated in different ways.
The structural stability can be created by the casting slurry of
the nanocrystals using spray, or drag coating and then calcine
the film at 400-450C. Several methods can be used to produce
TiO2 of varying particle size, from few nanometers to tenths of
nanometers and different crystallinity [5]. Many papers have
been dedicated to optimize sensitizer [8] in last 15 years, and
various sensitizers were observed.
In last few years various sensitizers were observed But
there are three parameters, which the sensitizer assigned to
DSSC should possess:
The sensitizer should be black in the UVA,
visible, and IR spectral region, with extremely
high broadband absorption.
The energetic and dynamic coupling between the
photo-excited state of the sensitizer and the
conduction band of the photoanode is the transfer
of an electron between the photo-excited sensitizer
and photoanode must be rapid and energetically
favourable.
The photostability of the sensitizer material must
be capable of many oxidation-reduction cycles
without decomposition.
V. Components and assembly
There are few main components of a DSSC.
1. Electrode cell
2. Electrolyte
3. Dye
4. Binder clips
5. Multiple wire connection
Multimeter and wire for testing.
Iodolyte AN-50 as Electrolyte This is an iodide/tri-iodide
redox couple that helps with electron recombination.
Anode - Transparent TiO2 ElectrodesTitanium di oxide
coated TCO (Transparent Conductive oxide) was used as
anodes. The TiO2 was already coated onto the TCO, as we did
not have required equipment for coating.
Fig. 2. TCO glasses
Cathode - Transparent Platinum Electrodes - Platinum
coated TCO glass was used as the back contact. The platinum,
being a catalyst, helps to speed up the electron recombination
process in the electrolyte.
 Ruthenizer 535-bisTBA Dye (N719) This is a Ruthenizer
based sensitizer dye which acts as the light harvesting active
layer. This dye is especially suited for the sensitization of
titanium dioxide in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell applications.
Fig. 3. N719 Dye
Ethanol as dye solvent Pure ethanol was used as the dye
solvent
VI. WORKING PRINCIPLE
As a new generation of photovoltaic cell, DSSCs are
photoelectrical cells that apply photosensitization on the
surface of the wide-band-gap mesoporous oxide
semiconductors. The most commonly used material for the
photo electrode is porous Nano crystalline titanium dioxide
(TiO2). The TiO2 film is deposited onto the transparent
conducting oxide(TCO), which is usually F-doped
SnO2substrate.
The working principle of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC)
is not based on a p-n junction as in the conventional solar cells
but on the photo generation of an electron by a dye, as in
photosynthesis. At the heart of a DSSC is a mesoporous layer
composed of nm-sized particles of a wide-band semiconductor
oxide, such as TiO2, ZnO or SnO2, that have been sintered
together to allow electronic conduction to take place. Photo
excitation of the sensitizer dye results in the injection of an
electron into the conduction band of the oxide, generating the
oxidized form of the dye. After electron injection, the ground
state of the dye is subsequently restored by electron donation
from the electrolyte reluctant, which in turn is regenerated by
the reduction of the electrolyte oxidant at the counter-electrode.
The difference between the Fermi level of the oxide and
the redox potential of the electrolyte determines the voltage
generated by the cell under illumination. DSSCs can be
produced at reasonably low cost while yielding relatively
decent efficiencies. We elaborate the the mechanism of DSSC
using Dye-sensitized solid-state heterojunction solar cell as an
example which we will focus on.
In Dye-sensitized solid-state heterojunction solar cell, a
monolayer of dye is attached to the surface of a microscopic
film of TiO2 (wide-band gap oxide) and serves to harvest solar
light dye absorbs light and then injects electrons into the
conduction band of semiconductor oxide (the nearby TiO2
particles) upon excitation, then the electrons transport through
its nanoparticle network by diffusion to the current collector
(anode),subsequently pass through the external circuit, perform
electrical work, processed to the counter electrode (cathode)at
the mean while, the dye also injects holes to the hole
conductors and transport to the counter electrode, and with the
outside circuit which the finishes loop. And there is no
chemical change under solar exposure. The Only difference for
original Grtze cell compared with Dye-sensitized solid-state
heterojunction solar cell is that the former uses electrolyte and
the latter uses as hole conducting medium.
Fig. 4. Illustration of photo-conversion mechanisms in a DSSC
VII. KEY CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Economic Impact
Dye-sensitized solar cell plays an important role in our
daily life. In our project it over all cost is higher but if we can
work for industrial system it cost will much lower than which
is our project analysis. Our main cost is electrode cell but if we
can import our cell in large scale for industry application cost
will much lower than our project purpose cost.
Environmental Impact:
Global climate change and air pollution problems are
becoming serious and arousing publics concern on the
emission of carbon dioxide and Sulphur di oxide. The most
representative aspect for environmental assessment is the
weighting of emissions of these two gases. According to the
ISO14040 standard, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was
conducted to compare between a Nano crystalline DSSC
electricity generation system and natural gas/combined cycle
power plant.
.
Social Impact
Social impact is basically participating in social welfare and
to improvement of society. In our project we mainly focus on
human civilization which is progress day by day. For our
country social well-being we work on this project to generate
power from different sources.
Political Impact
 Political leaders can be innovations of new ideas and new
concepts. They can introduce new things to their people to
reduce the burden of them by implementing new systems. Our
present technologies totally depends on power .so we must
focus on power generation from different sources.
Ethical Impact
The dye-sensitized solar cell has no ethical dilemma rather
it will work for power generation which is badly need for
human civilization The dye-sensitized solar cell can make our
life easier in case of critical situation when conventional power
source may not work.
Health and Safety Impact
One of the important things we should remind that as we
are using dye materials we must take proper safety measure
before we work on solar cell. Chemicals can danger for us .we
must careful whenever we will use liquid electrolyte. It can
make danger if we dont take any proper safety measure.
Manufacturability:
Manufacturing of the dye-sensitized solar cell (dssc) is easy
and less complex. The main components of the dssc is dye
which is mainly plays an important role to get voltage and
current and it is easy to construct. When it will be
manufactured commercially the cost will be reduced a lot.
VIII. TYPICAL DSSC PERFORMANCE
Fig. 5. Photocurrent-voltage curve obtained for a Nano crystalline TiO2 solar
cell sensitized by black dye. The results were obtained at the NREL
calibration laboratory. (From Ref. 9)
IX. DISCUSSION OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULT
We were able to obtain a maximum voltage of 0.6V and a
current of 0.3A. The results varied and fluctuated. These
fluctuations arise mainly because of changing light on the cell.
Since the voltage generated depends on band gap energy, it
does not vary with temperature or sunlight intensity. The low
short-circuit current (Isc) of the solar cells can be attributed to
the ineffective gathering of the photo-injected electrons, and
this is due to the presence of smaller nanoparticles on the
surface. The smaller nanoparticles may increase the series
resistance between the ITO and TiO2 nanoparticle structures.
The reduction of dye adsorption area, increased diffusion
length for photo excited electrons and easy charge
recombination are also the reasons for the reduction of
conversion efficiency.
The low conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cell is
attributed to inefficient light harvesting due to the low dye
absorption on the particle clump. The particle clump also acts
as a barrier for electron movement between the working
electrode and the ITO substrate. These factors cause small
collection of the photo-injected electrons at the TiO2photo-
anode and increase the recombination of electron to holes .
Voltage level: Vop(open circuit) = .7v
Current
From our three cell =2.1 v
Current level =3.6mA
Total power =V*I=2.1*3.6= 7.56miliwatts.
Area per cell = 25 cm square
Area per cell (only absorbs sun light) =16 cm square.
X. FUTURE SCOPE
DSSC has a great potential for clean power generation in
the future. Stability and conversion efficiency are the two
major concerns for further research and development of the
DSSC technology. The kinetic parameters play an important
role in the performance of DSSC. Continual developments in
materials, fabrication and modeling are also important. The
modeling works focusing on the design optimization and
parametric study should be industrially relevant and applicable.
Despite the fact that DSSC is much more environmentally
friendly, the scaling-up of DSSC technology still encounters
challenges and cost-effective DSSC is the ultimate target on
emerging into the world energy market.
Due to the unavailability of certain equipment we were not
able to perform further improvements in the fabrication of the
solar cells. One of the main improvement is improving the
TiO2 layer. The TiO2 layer should be spread as uniformly as
possible. If it is not uniform it will not give best output. To
achieve this uniformness, several methods can be used for the
deposition of the TiO2 on the TCO glass. These include spray
coating, spin coating and vapor deposition.
Annealing of the TiO2 layer is also important. From
various papers it has been seen that the best annealing
temperature is 450C. Temperatures below 450C will give
diminished current output. Temperature above 450C will
make the layer brittle and the cracked so the electron will have
difficulty in diffusing through the semiconductor.
Fig. 6. Annealing of TiO2 at different temperatures
Another important factor that affect the cell's efficiency is
the thickness of the nanostructured TiO2 layer which must be
less than 20m to ensure that the diffusion length of the
photoelectrons is greater than that of the Nano crystalline TiO2
layer. Greater thickness will provide more area for dye
absorption hence more electrons will be generated. But since
the electron has to cross the TiO2 layer to reach the electrode,
too much thickness will reduce electron flow. Another problem
of too much thickness is that the photons have to cross the
TiO2 layer to reach the dye molecules.
XI. CONCLUTION
DSSC has a great potential for clean power generation in
the future. Stability and conversion efficiency are the two
major concerns for further research and development of the
DSSC technology. The kinetic parameters play an important
role in the performance of DSSC. Continual developments in
materials, fabrication and modeling are also important. The
modeling works focusing on the design optimization and
parametric study should be industrially relevant and applicable.
Despite the fact that DSSC is much more environmentally
friendly, the scaling-up of DSSC technology still encounters
challenges and cost-effective DSSC is the ultimate target on
emerging into the world energy market.
DSSC has a great potential for clean power generation in
the future. Stability and conversion efficiency are the two
major concerns for further research and development modeling
are also important of the DSSC technology. The kinetic
parameters play an important role in the performance of DSSC.
Continual developments in materials, fabrication and
In short, compared to Si based solar cells dye sensitized
solar cells are of low cost and ease of production, their
performance does not vary significantly with temperature,
possessing bifacial (accepts photons from both sides)
configuration.
DSSC shows higher conversion efficiency than
polycrystalline Si in diffuse light or cloudy conditions. It is
believed that nanocrystal line photovoltaic devices are
becoming viable contender for large scale future solar energy
converters.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to thank all who helped us during this project
and our years of study at North South University. First of all,
we would like to thank our supervisor Dr. Hasan Uz Zaman
for his guidance and inspiration, without whom this project
would not have been possible.
Finally we would like to thank the Almighty for giving us
the opportunity to advance our education further.
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