Functionalizing Organic Dye with Cross-linkable Electrolyte-blocking Shell as a New Strategy for Improving DSSC Efficiency
Journal
RSC Advances
Journal Volume
2
Journal Issue
9
Pages
3722-3728
Date Issued
2012-04
Author(s)
Abstract
A simple method used to reduce the electron recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is demonstrated. The new dye molecule VTPCA equipped with a thermally cross-linkable styryl group can undergo polymerization during the annealing step of device fabrication to generate an electrolyte-blocking shell, which can impede undesirable electron recombination with the electrolyte. The Jsc, Voc, FF of the solar cell sensitized with VTPCA are 9.83 mA cm?2, 0.74 V, and 0.73, respectively, yielding an overall conversion efficiency of 5.31%. The result acquires 31.4% improvement on device efficiency compared to the unmodified device. In addition, with the incorporation of co-adsorbent chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and cross-linkable repair additive 4,4��-divinyltriphenylamine (DVTP), the optimized device with a robust shell shows an overall 46.8% enhancement over the basic model device.
SDGs
Type
journal article