Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

A layer of $TiO_2$ thin film less than ~500nm in thickness, as a blocking layer, was coated by sol-gel method directly onto the anode electrode to be isolated from the electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). This is to prevent the electrons from back-transferring from the electr...

A layer of $TiO_2$ thin film less than ~500nm in thickness, as a blocking layer, was coated by sol-gel method directly onto the anode electrode to be isolated from the electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). This is to prevent the electrons from back-transferring from the electrode to the electrolyte (I-/I3-). The effects of heat treatment conditions of the gel and as-coated film on the thickness and consolidation to substrate were studied. The flexible DSCs were fabricated with working electrode of Ti thin foil coated with blocking $TiO_2$ layer, dye-attached mesoporous $TiO_2$ film, gel electrolyte and counter electrode of Pt-deposited indium doped tin oxide/polyethylene naphthalate (ITO/PEN). The photo-current conversion efficiency of the cell was 5.3% ($V_{oc}=0.678V$, $J_{sc}=12.181mA/cm^2$, ff=0.634) under AM1.5, 100 mW/$cm^2$ illumination.