Application of Dye Sensitized

Solar Cell (DSSC)

Prepared by:
Brendon
Ng Jo Han
Yeu Chern
 What is DSSC?
• 3rd generation solar cells
• new class of low-cost solar cell
• belong to the group of thin film solar cells.
• a photoelectrochemical system
• invented in 1991 by Prof Michael Graetzel
• similar to natural photosynthesis
• energy from sunlight electric current
 Cell Design
DSSC is composed of
i. Glass/plastic protective layer
ii. SnO2 conductive layer
iii. Titanium dioxide & sensitized dye
iv. Electrolyte
v. Catalyst
How does a Dye Solar Cell Work?
 Mechanism of the dye sensitized solar cell
• Photon strike dye molecule
• Photoexcitation occurs
• Release electron into TiO2
• Electron exit through conductive layer & does its
work
• Electron return to cell by entering through the
electrolyte
• Triiodide molecule (I3-) is reduced to iodide ion (I-)
• electron transfer back to the dye molecule
• Iodide ion reform back to triiodide
• Dye molecule return to unactivate state

This process occur billion of times per second

inside the cell create electric current from
sunlight.
 Efficiency

• solar conversion efficiency (%) :total amount of

electrical power produced for a given amount of solar
power shining on the cell
• "quantum efficiency" is used to compare the chance
that one photon (of a particular energy) will create
one electron
• In quantum efficiency terms, DSSCs are extremely
efficient
• However it is only those photons that are absorbed by
the dye that ultimately produce current
• typically used dye molecules generally have poorer
absorption in the red part of the spectrum
• limit the current generated by a DSSC
• traditional silicon-based solar cell offers about 35
mA/cm2, whereas current DSSCs offer about 20
mA/cm2
• overall peak power production efficiency for current
DSSCs is about 11%
 N3 (or N719) ruthenium dye

• In dye solar cells, the dye is one of the key

components for high power conversion efficiencies.
• Ruthenium Dyes can be used for photochemical
experiments and as sensitizers of wide band-gap
semiconductor, like titanium dioxide in Dye Solar
Cells.
• the best energy conversion efficiency of up to 11%
was achieved by using ruthenium dyes, such as N3,
N719
Structures of the ruthenium-based dyes N3, N719 and
‘black dye’
A modified complex based on the ruthenium dye N3

• The complexes claimed

here are also based on N3,
with one of the ligands
modified to a structure
with additional aromatic
rings and, in some
embodiments, containing
alkyl chains
• a significant improvement
in absorption (ε is
increased)
 Organic dyes

Molecular structure of D149

• New organic indoline structure dye which is applied for

highly efficient solid state dye sensitized solar cell (DSSSC)
• Indoline dye (D149) with an absorption coefficient up to 5
times larger than the common N719 at the maximum of the
solar spectrum
 What are the advantages of DSSC?

• low cost (inexpensive)

• Environmental friendly
• easy to produce
• DSSCs work even in low-light conditions
• can withstand long exposure to light and heat
compared with traditional silicon-based solar
cells.
• higher efficiencies in higher temperatures
• DSSCs :radiate away heat much easier, and
therefore operate at lower internal temperatures.
 Major disadvantage of DSSC
• use of the liquid electrolyte, which has
temperature stability problems
• electrolyte solution, which contains volatile
organic solvents
• Efficiencies are lower compared with silicon
solar cell
 Application of DSSC
• transparent and flexible sheets or dye that could be
used to coat glass, such as the windows of your house
to supply energy to your home.
• provide power to small-device batteries
• it could be used to coat the lenses of sunglasses -Self
Energy Converting Sunglasses (SIG)
• Collecting energy and making it provide power to
small devices
• World’s first commercial application of DSSC solar
technology is in the bag
• The solar panels built into these backpacks and bags
will harvest energy to repower mobile electronic
devices such as mobile phones, e-books, cameras, and
portable LED lighting systems.
 Video clip: How does solar panels work

ow Solar Panels Work.f