Rse 063102

JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY 2, 063102 2010
Novel spray pyrolysis for dye-sensitized solar cell

V. Senthilnathan1,a and S. Ganesan2
1
Department of Physics, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore 641049, India 2 Department of Physics, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore 641013, India Received 16 July 2010; accepted 8 October 2010; published online 10 December 2010
In the area of photovoltaic, the silicon solar cell is the most popular and it has issues such as stability and scaling up cost. On the other hand, a dye-sensitized solar cell DSSC is one of the most promising candidates for a high-performance solar cell in the next generation, since it is fabricated by a simple manufacture process at relatively low cost. The focus of interest in this research paper is to mention the usage of maiden single and simple apparatus of spray pyrolysis thin lm deposition to fabricate the electrode and counterelectrode for DSSC. It involves the novelties introduced in the instrumentation of the apparatus and the characterizations x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and atomic force microscopy of the prepared thin lms for the fabricated DSSC. In this work, the pomegranate fruit dye is used to sensitize the nano-TiO2. 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3517228
I. INTRODUCTION
Thin lms are used in different applications such as solar cells, optoelectronics, sensors, etc. The spray pyrolysis thin lm deposition SPTD method of thin lm preparation is a simple and versatile method of making thin lms and multilayered lms.1 This technique had been used in research to prepare thin and thick lms, ceramic coatings, and powders.1 It had been used for several decades in the glass industry2 and in solar cell production.3,4 Spray pyrolysis represents a very simple and relatively cost-effective processing method especially with regard to equipment costs .5 The typical spray pyrolysis equipment consists of an atomizer, precursor solution, substrate heater, and temperature controller.6 The method involves spraying a solution containing precursors onto a heated substrate. Sprayed droplets or residual particles reaching the hot surface undergo pyrolytic decomposition and form a single or a polycrystalline lm. The quality and properties of the lms depend largely on the process parameters. The most important parameter is the substrate surface temperature.1,2,7,8 In many studies, the deposition temperature was reported indeed as the most important spray pyrolysis parameter.9 The properties of deposited lms can be varied and thus controlled by changing the deposition temperature.1,7,1012 The substrate temperature has inuences over the resulting optical and electrical properties of SnOF, ZnO lms.1214 Hence, in some of the reported research papers, it has been stated that an intermittent spray was preferred in the spray coating process for getting a good thin lm material formation.4,12,1421 In the time gap between the two successive sprays of a series of sprays, the substrate temperature Ts and the air medium above the substrate are restored to its initial levels of preferred temperature. In spray pyrolysis, the resulting thin lms especially for optoelectronics applications may be improved by implementing an optimized intermittent spray. In intermittent spray, the spray is paused after regular interval to reduce the drop down of substrate temperature in continuous spray. It is a proven fact14,21 that intermittent spray has advantages over the continuous spray pyrolysis
Electronic mail: nathas.com@gmail.com. 2, 063102-1 2010 American Institute of Physics
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V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan
J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010
Novel microcontroller circuit

Displays the spray time,pause time and number of cycles of interemittand sprays remaining Driver circuit
spray pyrolysis thin film coating unit with novel inclined rotating substrate
Compressed carrier gas
Swithch for spraying carrier gas with chemical solution
Chemical solution
Relay
Inclined substrate Driver circuit Relay Switch for substrate rotation motor
Switch for ventilation motor
Heater
Key pad
Key pad for feeding time span and cycles for intermittant spray, rotation of substrate & ventilation
FIG. 1. Block diagram of the newly developed spray pyrolysis setup.
deposition. The surface morphology of the lms was found to depend strongly on the initial solutions.2,22 In this work, the SPTD equipment is fabricated. In this paper, an economical microcontroller is linked with it to improve the quality of the thin lm by making use of user dened intermittent spray, ventilation, and substrate motion. All these functions are simultaneously done by tapping the output from the microcontroller. Hence, once the details are set, then it is almost an automatic coating. This developed system is useful to prepare thin lm materials12,14,15,2325 for dye-sensitized solar cell DSSC applications. The novelties are the use of a simplied low-cost microcontroller to automate the intermittent spray process and for the rotation of the inclined substrate as per the requirements. Hence, such thin lm coating becomes precise and hassle free operation for a required number of intermittent sprays. Usually, in manually done SPTD for good quality thin lms, precise monitoring of intermittent spray process is to be operated for several minutes more than 30 min . In this novel device, it automatically does the precise intermittent spray without error, thus ensuring better thin lm quality. Nano-SnOF,26,27 TiO2 thin lms are prepared using this apparatus and assembled to get the DSSC. This automation of intermittent spray helps to do the experiment without error for the dened time durations until the completion of the spray process. Using this economic device, thin lms such as transparent conducting oxide TCO and TiO2 can be prepared for studying/manufacturing DSSC. This paper is expected to be useful for researchers and manufacturers for making thin lms by almost automatic SPTD method.
II. INNOVATIVE DESIGN USING MICROCONTROLLER
It had been conclusively proven that intermittent spray12,14 has advantages over continuous spray. In SPTD, precisely managing the timings of an intermittent spray spray time and spray pause time without any error can help to create a good thin lm and reproducibility of thickness and thin lm quality. In a usual manual spray pyrolysis one has to regulate and observe the spray on, off durations, ventilation, carrier gas ow, and substrate motion till the thin lm coating is complete. These are to be recorded for analysis and for reporting the resulting thin lm properties. A microcontroller device28,29 can easily and efciently handle this task. This will ensure better reproducibility of the thin lms. The block diagram of the microcontroller and its interface with the fabricated spray pyrolysis setup is given in Fig. 1. The microcontroller timer circuit and
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Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC
FIG. 2. The overall circuit diagram of the microcontroller circuit.
its accessories circuit are given in Fig. 2. The photograph of the microcontroller and its interface with the spray pyrolysis is given in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively.
III. INNOVATIVE DESIGN OF AN INCLINED ROTATING SUBSTRATE
Considering the point stressed by Perednis et al.1 and similar works,3032 an inclined rotating substrate is implemented in this research project. This inclined substrate design facilitates for most of the droplets to strike the substrate and spread.1,16,30,32 A slow speed motor 60 rpm kept at the outside bottom of the coating chamber rotates the cone shaped structure inside the chamber.31 On the outer surface of the cone shape, inclined substrate holders were positioned. The circular rotation of the substrate helps in spreading the splashing droplet on it due to centrifugal force.30,31 The photograph of the novel inclined rotating substrate holder is given in Fig. 5. The cone structure is lled inside with metal lling for absorbing and storing the thermal energy. The temperature sensing probe is in contact with the cone. Its temperature and its ambient temperature are heated up by the electric furnace arrangement. A chrome alumel thermocouple is used to sense the temperature of the substrate. The substrate is kept at a xed temperature Ts with the help of a digital temperature controller device. When all these are synchronized with the microcontroller output for a simultaneous on and off setting, it ultimately helps to ensure the reproducibility of the thin lm.17 Perednis et al.1 analyzed the spray pyrolysis aerosol transport in detail. They reported that in an aerosol, the droplet is transported and eventually evaporates. In this, it is important that maximum droplets as much as possible are to be transported to the substrate without forming powder or salt particles. The research investigations done by Sears et al.33 in this regard about the mechanism of SnO2 lm growth were also reviewed by them. The inuence of forces that determine both
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FIG. 3. Photograph of the microcontroller circuit.
the trajectory of the droplets and evaporation was examined and a lm growth model was proposed by Sears et al. Gravitational, electric, thermophoretic, and Stokes forces were taken into account by them. Perednis et al.1 reported that Sears et al. overestimated the role of thermophoretic forces. It was concluded that the lm grows from the vapor of droplets passing very close to the hot substrate in a manner of chemical vapor deposition and droplets that strike the substrate form a powdery deposit. Perednis et al. also highlighted that an important point that needs to be considered is the spreading of droplets on the substrate, which more signicantly contributes to the lm growth. In the spray pyrolysis process, it is desired that the most droplets strike the substrate and spread. These points are taken into account by the researchers, and hence an inclined substrate and its rotation were carried out by them successfully.1,16,17,30,31,34 The aerosol transport on an inclined substrate is given in Fig. 6.
IV. TESTING AND OPTIMIZATION OF THE FABRICATED EQUIPMENT
The working of the fabricated SPTD device along with the novel ideas is tested and optimized by the following simple steps/methods. This helps to understand the aerosol transport and thin lm formation and compare the earlier reported model and experimental works.35,36 In this, the uid dynamics inside the coating chamber is analyzed by spraying a dark blue color ink solution through the nozzle jet and covering the inner lining of the chamber with white background. This is repeated also at high temperature for every 2 s of color solution spray on the cone surface with glass substrate. The trajectory of the aerosols and the formation of blue color over the glass surface are photographed for analysis. Here, the glass substrate was coated with color. This gives the details about the active aerosol trajectory and the possible deposition regions. In an actual experiment, the pyrolysis action takes place. So, the test is repeated with SnO2 F, TiO2 thin lm
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FIG. 4. Photograph of the microcontroller circuit and inclined substrate for spray pyrolysis setup.
experiments to ascertain the uniform thin lm formation.31,35 The height of the substrate is also adjusted to repeat the experiment and the optimum distance between the nozzle and the substrate is also optimized 25 cm . The cone shaped metallic structure is also optimized by changing the semivertical angle of the cone and found to match with the earlier work of 40.30,32 A uniform thin lm formation is produced for an inclination of 40 angle. The ventilation happening inside the chamber was veried by lling the chamber with smoke and then the spray was done for 2 s along with air suction. The air turbulence inside the chamber was controlled and allows thin lm formation even when the circular motion of the substrate is activated. The microcontroller circuit necessary for the automatic intermittent spray is fabricated. The working of microcontroller circuit checked with the spray pyrolysis apparatus. This paper is focusing on the details of inclined rotating substrate and microcontroller aided automatic intermittent spray, its interface with SPTD. A mathematical model was developed20 for the prediction of lm thickness deposited using spray pyrolysis and it is used here to optimize the fabricated SPTD apparatus and the accessories.
V. EXPERIMENTAL A. Preparation of SnOF TCO for electrode and counterelectrode
The stannous chloride SnCl2 5H2O dissolved in 5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid HCl was heated at 90 C for 10 min.27 Subsequently, it was diluted with ethanol and used as the starting solution. The uorine doping 15 wt % was achieved by adding ammonium uoride NH4F , dissolved in doubly distilled water, to the starting solution. Using the novel apparatus with automatic intermittent spray, F-doped SnO2 conducting layer FTO, 10 / sq is prepared above the precleaned glass substrate of 1 mm thickness. The prepared FTO layers 2.8 m are used in the front side electrode and back side counterelectrode electrodes for the DSSC. The substrate temperature is maintained at 430 C. The spray duration is for 2 s and paused for 2 min for the substrate to restore to its preset 430 C.
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FIG. 5. Photograph of the inclined substrate.
B. Preparation of TiO2 compact layer
In this work, the compact layer CL and mesoporous lms of TiO2 Refs. 17 and 37 preparation step are a hybrid of the spin17,30,3739 and spray pyrolysis30,37,40 using the novel substrate holder design. It is a completely different and simple method than the reported pyrolysis methods.37,4042 The design allows the spin and spray pyrolysis to occur at the same time, and hence comparatively quicker, homogeneous, and reproducible thin lm formation is achieved. The splashing of the sprayed aerosols SPTD on glass plates located on the rotating inclined substrate led to the formation of thin lm formation. The rotation of the inclined substrate facilitates better splashing an of aerosols and hence for even distribution of the thin lm coating throughout the glass substrate.38 Thus, this method is a combination of conventional spray pyrolysis and spin coating. The usual spin coating is a tedious process. The alcoholic solution of titanium IV isopropoxide Sigma Aldrich is taken as the precursor 0.1M concentration in ethanol medium is used . Three drops 0.1 ml of Triton X-100 Aldrich are added and stirred thoroughly.37 The solution is sprayed on the prepared uorine doped tin oxide SnOF transparent conducting oxide TCO glass substrate. The substrate temperature is maintained at 100 C. Using the above mentioned microcontroller circuit, simultaneous spraying and substrate rotation 2 s happen. It is followed by a waiting time of 30 s to avoid the excessive cooling of the substrate during the spray. This cycle was repeated for 20 times, then the lms were sintered at 500 C for 1 h and cooled to room temperature to get 100 nm thick dense TiO2 layer. The spraying process was done with a glass nozzle using compressed and puried gas. The resulting pinhole-free compact layer of TiO2 prevents the short circuiting of the cell.17,43
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Spray
Substrate
Exhaust
FIG. 6. Aerosol transport on an inclined substrate.
C. Preparation of mesoporous TiO2 layer
The alcoholic solution of titanium IV isopropoxide Sigma Aldrich is taken as the precursor 0.09M concentration in ethanol medium with ten drops of HNO3 is used . Three drops 0.1 ml of Triton X-100 Aldrich and 0.1 ml three drops of polyethylene glycol39 are 37,39 This solution is sprayed above the prepared TiO2 compact layer added and stirred thoroughly. glass plate/SnO F / TiO2 compact layer . The substrate temperature is maintained at 100 C. The above mentioned compact layer coating approach is followed here. The spray cycles were repeated for 100 times to get a 6 m thickness of mesoporous TiO2 thin lm above the CL layer. The thin lm is annealed at 500 C and not beyond it39,44 for increasing the crystallinity of the TiO2 and for adhesion of the dye.39,44
D. Dye sensitization
The pomegranate fruit dye is extracted and it is used to sensitize the TiO2 as per the earlier reported method.45 Strong chelation of avylium with TiO2 changes it to quinonoid form.45 This completes the formation of TiO2 electrode for the DSSC.
E. Preparation of counterelectrode, electrolytes, and DSSC assembling
The prepared SnOF thin lm is taken and above it, graphite45 coating is applied, and above that, carbon black is applied by exposing it uniformly over the candle ame. This is a simple and economic method to get the counterelectrode. Between the electrodes, a 50 m space was retained using a pair of PTFE polytetrauoroethylene lm spacers and electrolyte was injected into the space. The electrolyte composition was 0.03M of I2 and 0.5M of KI in ethylene carbonate/ acetonitrile 80:20, v/v .46 The assembling of the DSSC components is carefully done here4749 to get the DSSC for further photovoltaic analysis.
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F. Photovoltaic experiment 1. I-V characteristics
The I-V characteristics of the device in the dark and under illumination were measured in Fig. 9 by a semiconductor parameter analyzer Keithley 4200-SCS . A xenon light source Oriel, USA was used to give an irradiance of 100 mW/ cm2 equivalent to AM1.5 irradiation at the surface of the device. The photoaction spectrum of the devices was measured using a monochromator Spex 500 M, USA , and the resulting photocurrent was measured with a Keithley electrometer model 6514 , which is interfaced to the computer by LABVIEW software.
G. Other characterization experiments
The coated SnOF thin lms are characterized using a four probe apparatus for measuring its resistivity, UV-NIR ultraviolet to near infrared spectrophotometer for transmittance measurement. Stylus prolometer is used for thickness measurement. The x-ray diffraction XRD , scanning electron microscope SEM , and atomic force microscopy AFM analysis is done for nding the elements, phases, crystal structures, and surface and grain size analysis of SnOF, TiO2 thin lms.
VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A. XRD, SEM, and AFM analysis of SnOF and TiO2 thin lms by spray pyrolysis
The fabricated SPTD apparatus functioned correctly as per the instructed intermittent spray duration. The developed novel microcontroller circuit is helpful for simultaneously controlling the intermittent spray, ventilation, and for substrate motion. Using this economic device, thin lms such as TCO SnOF 3,26,27 and TiO2 are prepared for studying/manufacturing of DSSC. Its XRD is given in Figs. 7 a 7 c . Its standard peaks indicate the polycrystalline nature conrming the presence of the elements anatase TiO2: tetragonal 101 , rutile TiO2, and SnOF in nanocrystal size range. The average grain sizes are TiO2 : 30 nm and Sno F : 40 nm by Scherrer equation applied to diffraction peaks in Figs. 7 a 7 c . In TiO2, more intense peak is identied at 2 = 25.3 for the TiO2 anatase phase. The anatase phase TiO2 is preferred over rutile phase TiO2 for DSSC application.50 The annealed TiO2 lms have been observed to be nanocrystalline in nature and the crystallinity has been observed to improve on annealing.39,44 The prepared nano TiO2 thin lm layer is sensitized using dye. The AFM images of the mesoporous TiO2, SnOF are given in Figs. 8 d and 8 e .These also conrm the nanoparticle thin lm formation. It also reveals the mesoporous surface morphology of TiO2 and rough surface of SnOF. The thin lms are homogeneous and reproducible. The thickness of the prepared thin lm is also variable in accordance with DSSC application.20
B. Photovoltaic characterization
The thin lms prepared by this novel method are characterized and tested for its DSSC performance. Here, the prepared thin lms for DSSC application are compared with some of the similar DSSC researches. The results are in agreement/matching with conventional 1.14 methods.45,47,49,51,52 The assembled DSSC produces short circuit current of 1003 A / cm2 with an open circuit voltage of 0.56 V and a ll factor of 0.38. The overall power conversion efciency is = 0.49%. The current vs voltage graph of the prepared DSSC under dark and illumination is given in Fig. 9, its solar cell parameters are given in Table I. The schematic diagram representing the DSSC layers side view is given in Fig. 10.
C. Advantages of this novel apparatus for the fabrication of DSSC comparison
In the most of the reported research works about the fabrication of DSSC, the following steps were carried out. The SnOF coated glass substrate is a purchased one from the commercial manufacturers45,46,51,53 or prepared.15 The electrode for DSSC is prepared by coating a CL of TiO2 above SnOF by spin15 or spray coating17,43 and then annealed. It is then followed by coating of
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FIG. 7. a XRD of TiO2 on glass substrate; b XRD of SnOF on glass substrate; c XRD of SnOF and TiO2 on glass substrate.
mesoporous nano-TiO2 by doctor blade37,46 or spin37,54 or spray pyrolysis15,37,43 or other method53 of thin lm coating and then annealed. In this purchased or ready made nano-TiO2, colloidal paste or powder was used.15,37,45,46,51,54 Ranga Rao and Dutta55 prepared nano-TiO2 and used it for preparing thin lm of mesoporous TiO2 by spray pyrolysis. Senadeera et al.37 compared
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
FIG. 8. SEM images: a mesoporous TiO2; b TiO2 and pomegranate fruit dye; c SnOF. AFM images: d mesoporous TiO2; e SnOF.
the TiO2 thin lm prepared by spray method SPTD and doctor blade DB method. The TiO2 thin lm by SPTD method possessed higher pore volume and porosity higher effective area providing larger space for dye adsorption than the DB method.37 In this paper, all these thin lm coatings are achieved with the help of the novel spray pyrolysis apparatus. This simplies the whole DSSC electrode fabrication. The preparation of anatase phase nano-TiO2 is the key thin lm layer formation for DSSC. The novel substrate design has helped to do a hybrid of spray pyrolysis cum spin thin lm deposition leading to homogeneous and reproducible TiO2 thin lms. The sintered mesoporous lms have good adherence to the CL, which is coated above FTO SnOF . The TiO2 never peeled off by a stream of water and air or even with light rubbing. In this work, a multilayer consisting of pinhole free SnOF thin lm, compact layer of TiO2 thin lm, and above that mesoporous nano-TiO2 thin lm are prepared on the glass substrate. In each thin lm layer coating, the respective annealing required is carried out inside the same coating chamber. This ultimately became the electrode for DSSC after the dye sensitization. In this apparatus, in a single coating process, totally seven such electrodes are prepared. This novel apparatus is a simple version of automation using microcontroller circuit compared to stepper motor drives and laboratory view software assisted instrumentations for thin lm coatings.6,29
D. Advantages of SnOF electrode and counterelectrode comparison
In the preparation of platinum Pt counterelectrode for DSSC, SnOF or ITO thin lm coated transparent glass was purchased by researchers and purchased Pt catalyst T/SP paste was applied above it.51 Similarly, Pt sputtered ITO conductive glass46 and transparent thin lm of platinum deposited onto FTO conductive surface were also used.53 In this paper, SnOF counterelectrode is used prepared similar to the electrode layer: Sno F : 40 nm and FTO, 10 / sq . Then, graphite layer is applied above it. The SnCl2, being cheaper than SnCl4, has proven to be a cost-effective
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I-V characteristics in dark and under Illumination

Y axis
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Current density (A/Cm2 )

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+##"####$ %
Voltage (V)
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Y ' axis
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FIG. 9. The current vs voltage graph of the prepared DSSC under dark and illumination.
precursor for preparing low-cost tin oxide thin lms of quality, comparable to those prepared by SnCl4.27,56 The SnOF prepared by Elangovan et al. at 400 C substrate temperature had used methanol as solvent.27,56 The spray time was maintained at 1 s and the spray interval at 3 min. In this work, easily available ethanol is used as solvent and the substrate temperature is xed at 430 C to get 2.8 m thick SnOF thin lm with a sheet resistance Rsh of 10 / sq and transmittance of 73%. In this work, the spray time was maintained at 2 s and the spray interval at 2 min. The high thickness and the ethanol as solvent may have resulted in less transmittance compared to the work of Elangovan et al.27 85% for 1.21 m thickness . In spite of graphite layer above SnOF in counterelectrode instead of the widely used platinum layer, the efciency is encouraging.45,51,52 This may be due to the presence of compact layer in the electrode.17,43
E. Natural pomegranate fruit dye sensitization
The interest in natural dyes arises from the possibility of achieving an efcient sensitization without expensive and time consuming synthetic and purication procedures.57 Natural dyes show sensitization activity lower than synthetic ones and less stability.47,49,58 Actually, their application is far below the industrial requirements. Nevertheless, the study about natural dye and this novel apparatus for fabrication of DSSC is an interesting multidisciplinary exercise useful for
TABLE I. Solar cell parameters of the prepared DSSC. Voc V 0.56 Isc A / cm2 1.14 1003 V mx V 0.3 Imx A / cm2 6.79 104 Pin mW/ cm2 5.00 102 Efciency % 0.488
Fill factor 0.382 82
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FIG. 10. Schematic diagram representing the DSSC layers side view . The thickness of the thin lm layers from right: 1 mm glass plate, 2.8 m FTO layer, electrolyte, 6 m sensitized nanoporous anatase TiO2, 100 nm compact anatase TiO2 layer, 2.8 m FTO layer, 1 mm glass plate.
dissemination of knowledge and to educate people on renewable energy sources. In this work, pomegranate fruit dye is extracted and it is used to sensitize the TiO2 to get the DSSC of efciency = 0.49%. Our results are encouraging and we are planning new experiments to address higher efciency.
F. Advantages of TiO2 thin lm by this novel apparatus comparison
The quick DSSC manufacturing method reported by Okuya et al.15 had used sputtered platinum coated counterelectrode, a modern automated spray pyrolysis apparatus for coating all the other thin lm layers. The 0.1M of di-n-butyltin IV diacetate and NH4F in ethanol medium was used to prepare SnOF with a molar ratio of NH4F / DBTDA = 1.6. The spray time and the waiting time were 0.5 and 5 s, respectively, when substrate temperature was at 500 C. The compact layer or dense layer above SnOF was achieved by the same method by using 0.1M of titanium IV oxyacetylacetonate ethanol solution. Finally, 0.1M of aqueous TiO2-sol STS-01, Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd., Japan with an additive of titanium tetra-iso-propoxide TPT was sprayed above the dense TiO2 layer. The porous TiO2 lm with 10 20 m thickness was prepared by 5070 times of each SPTD cycle; 0.5 s of spray followed by 3.0 s of waiting time. Synthetic ruthenium based dye was used to get DSSC with a maximum efciency of = 5.1%. The author has stressed the advantage of mixing the TPT with the TiO2 sol in SPTD method to form crystallized TiO2 necks between particles within a few seconds after the spray. There has been spray pyrolysis15,41,42,59 SPTD method for nanoanatase phase TiO2 thin lm preparations. Castillo et al.41 prepared smooth surfaced anatase phase nano-TiO2 thin lm from titanium diisopropoxide at 400 C on fused quartz and on silicon substrates. The aerosol was generated ultrasonically. After the analysis of the coated lm, it was concluded that the growth process is near as to a chemical vapor deposition than the typical splashing mechanisms of spray pyrolysis. In this work, the substrate design allows conventional splashing mechanism and sol gel-spin coating. The bottom ventilation drives the very small percentage of vaporized gas to undergo chemical vapor deposition. After that, it is sucked out of the coating chamber by the ventilator. Van Nho et al.42 prepared nitrogen doped anatase phase nano-TiO2 thin lm from TiCl4 and NH4 NO3 by SPTD. It was found that doped nitrogen increases the photosensitivity of nano-TiO2. Boercker et al.60 grew polycrystalline TiO2 nanowires on platinum foil through a three step
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process60 and a DSSC was made with an = 1.8% cell illuminated from the cathode side . There have been reports on many other methods50,6064 of anatase phase nano-TiO2 thin lm preparation and their DSSC applications.
G. Future for DSSC
There have been researches going on to replace the dye, electrolytes, and conducting electrodes for better efciency and life span of DSSC.15,47,4952,57,58,6570 The scope of DSSC for the future energy scenario is stressed in many reports.57,6769,71,72
VII. CONCLUSION
In this work, successful coating of homogeneous and reproducible nano-SnOF, TiO2 thin lms for DSSC application is done. The main electrodes are fabricated using the developed novel apparatus. A DSSC is fabricated using pomegranate dye and other economic materials with an efciency of 0.49%. Owing to its simplicity and low cost, we believe that our spraying technique can be rened for small scale DSSC manufacturing. The efciency of DSSC may be improved with different dyes, electrolytes, electrodes,37,47,52,5659,65,6772 etc. In this work, the SnOF preparation is by a novel inclined rotating substrate spray pyrolysis method. The TiO2 thin lm preparation is by a novel spin cum spray pyrolysis thin lm coating39,55 method. The characterization of the prepared thin lms shows that the pyrolytic reaction has been taking place normally. The whole intermittent spray processes were automatic, and hence a good quality thin lm coating was achieved every time. The novel substrate design has helped to do a hybrid of spray pyrolysis cum spin thin lm deposition leading to quicker and homogeneous thin lm deposition of TiO2. Other thin lm preparations can be attempted using this. This microcontroller may be modied accordingly for automating spin, dip coating of thin lms.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We gratefully acknowledge and sincerely thank Mr. M. V. Vasu of nathas.com research ideas center, Sarvanampatty, Coimbatore, Pin Code: 641 035, India and Kumaraguru College of Technology KCT , Chinnavedamaptty, Coimbatore, Pin Code: 641 049, India.
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JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY 2, 063102 2010

Novel spray pyrolysis for dye-sensitized solar cell

Electronic mail: nathas.com@gmail.com. 2, 063102-1 2010 American Institute of Physics

V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

Novel microcontroller circuit

FIG. 1. Block diagram of the newly developed spray pyrolysis setup.

Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

FIG. 2. The overall circuit diagram of the microcontroller circuit.

III. INNOVATIVE DESIGN OF AN INCLINED ROTATING SUBSTRATE

V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

FIG. 3. Photograph of the microcontroller circuit.

Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

FIG. 5. Photograph of the inclined substrate.

B. Preparation of TiO2 compact layer

Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

C. Preparation of mesoporous TiO2 layer

E. Preparation of counterelectrode, electrolytes, and DSSC assembling

V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

F. Photovoltaic experiment 1. I-V characteristics

Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

I-V characteristics in dark and under Illumination

Current density (A/Cm2 )

Fill factor 0.382 82

V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

V. Senthilnathan and S. Ganesan

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

Novel spray pyrolysis for DSSC

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 063102 2010

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