Highly Efficient Dye-Synsitized Solar Cells Using Microtextured Electron Collecting Anode and Nanoporous and Interdigitated Hole Collecting Cathode and Method for Making Same

Northern Illinois University
posted on 06/24/2010

Nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are an appealing device for solar-electric energy conversion for its low cost, simple process, and large-scale production. This invention and method for manufacturing radically alters the nature of the electron transport in traditional TiO2 nanoparticle-based DSSC, from semiconducting to metallic conducting, instead of the traditional method of affecting the electron diffusion length through changing shapes of the semiconducting anode. This strategy erects free-standing metallic pillars on transparent conducting oxide (TCO) glass via electrochemical deposition methods. The pillars or microantennas serve as shortcuts and fast lanes for electron transport from nanoparticles to the TCO anode; in a manner analogous to an antenna that collects radio signals. Besides dye-loading, a key to the higher efficiency is the miroantenna pillar shape when arranged in arrays which decreases electron migration distance.

Suggested Uses

Solar cells

Advantages

Significantly boosts electron harvest in conventional semiconducting nanocrystalline DSSC; doubles the efficiency of other DSSCs while maintaining commercial feasibility

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

Enhanced Electron Transport in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Short ZnO Nanotips on A Rough Metal Anode. Yang, Z.; Xu, T.; Yasuo, I.; Welp, U.; Kwok, W. K. (2009) J. Phys. Chem. C, 113: 20521-20526.

File Number: C09-004

Web site: http://www.tto.niu.edu/tto/technologies/DSSC.shtml

IP Protection

License Online

This innovation currently is not available for online licensing. Please contact NIU TTO at Northern Illinois University for more information.

request more info