Transparent bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells based on organic counter electrodes and iodine-free electrolyte

Zhiliang Ku; Yaoguang Rong; Hongwei Han

doi:10.1117/12.2023542

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17 October 2013 Transparent bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells based on organic counter electrodes and iodine-free electrolyte

Zhiliang Ku, Yaoguang Rong, Hongwei Han

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Proceedings Volume 8830, Organic Photovoltaics XIV; 88301T (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023542
Event: SPIE Organic Photonics + Electronics, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In this study, a novel bifacially active transparent dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSCs) assembled with a transparent poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) counter electrode and a colorless iodine-free polymer gel (IFPG) electrolyte was developed. The IFPG electrolyte was prepared by employing an ionic liquid (1,2-dimethyl-3-propylinmidazolium iodide, DMPII) as the charge transfer intermediate and a polymer composite as the gelator without the addition of iodine, exhibiting high conductivity and non-absorption characters. PEDOT electrodes were prepared via a facile electro-polymerization method. By controlling the amount of polymerization charge capacity, we optimized the PEDOT electrodes with high transparency and a favorable activity for catalyzing the IFPG electrolyte. The bifacial DSSCs device fabricated by this kind of transparent PEDOT electrode and colorless IFPG electrolyte showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.35% and 4.98% at 100 mW cm^-2 AM1.5 illumination corresponding to front- and rear-side illumination. It is notable that the PCE under rear-side illumination approaches 80% that of front-side illumination. Moreover, the device shows excellent stability as confirmed by aging test. These promising results highlight the enormous potential of this transparent PEDOT CE and colorless IFPG electrolyte in scaling up and commercialization of low cost and effective bifacial DSSCs.

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Zhiliang Ku, Yaoguang Rong, and Hongwei Han "Transparent bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells based on organic counter electrodes and iodine-free electrolyte", Proc. SPIE 8830, Organic Photovoltaics XIV, 88301T (17 October 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023542

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