and Anders Hagfeldt

Photovoltage study of charge injection from dye molecules into transparent hole and electron conductors

Transient and spectral photovoltage (PV) have been investigated for charge injection from a dye [Ru(dcbpyH2)2(NCS)2] into transparent hole (CuSCN, CuI, CuAlO2) and electron (TiO2, SnO2:F) conductors. The PV signal rises to a maximum within 10ns to 10μs, depending on the transparent hole or electron conductor and on the mechanism of charge separation. The efficiency of hole and electron injection is of the same order while the effective lifetimes of injected charge vary between several μs and 1ms for the samples used. The thresholds for charge injection from the dye range between 1.6 and 1.8eV depending on the material on which the dye is adsorbed.

Mesoporous Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Photovoltaics, or solar cells, are fast growing both with regards to industrialization and research. Globally, the total PV installation is around 40 GW and an annual growth rate of 45% has been experienced over recent years. In the comparison between different photovoltaic technologies a figure of merit is the production cost per peak watt of solar electricity produced. For so called second generation thin film solar cells production costs down to and even below 1

Three-Dimensional Array of Highly Oriented Crystalline ZnO Microtubes

/W−1peak are reported. To be competitive with conventional energy sources for large-scale electricity production new PV technologies need to aim at production costs below 0.5

Li+ Ion Insertion in TiO2 (Anatase). 2. Voltammetry on Nanoporous Films

/W−1peak. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) is a molecular solar cell technology which have the potential to achieve production costs below 0.5

Comparison of dye-sensitized ZnO and TiO2 solar cells : Studies of charge transport and carrier lifetime

/W−1peak. DSC is based on molecular and nanometer-scale components. Record cell efficiencies of 12%, promising stability data and means of energy efficient production methods have been accomplished. As selling points for the DSC technology the prospect of low-cost investments and fabrication are key features. DSCs offer the possibilities to design solar cells with a large flexibility in shape, color, and transparency. This chapter describes the basic principles of the operation of DSC, the state-of-the-art, the materials development that is currently taking place as well as the potentials for future development.