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Photovoltaic Performance and Characteristics of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Prepared with the N719 Thermal Degradation Products [Ru(LH) 2 (NCS)(4‐ tert ‐butylpyridine)][N(Bu) 4 ] and [Ru(LH) 2 (NCS)(1‐methylbenzimidazole)][N(Bu) 4 ]
Author(s) -
Nguyen Phuong Tuyet,
Lam Binh Xuan Thi,
Andersen Anders Rand,
Hansen Poul Erik,
Lund Torben
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.201000935
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , chemistry , open circuit voltage , electrolyte , dielectric spectroscopy , short circuit , energy conversion efficiency , photovoltaic system , analytical chemistry (journal) , degradation (telecommunications) , solar cell , voltage , optoelectronics , electrochemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , materials science , electrical engineering , engineering
The dye‐sensitized solar cell N719 thermal degradation products [Ru(LH) 2 (NCS)(4‐ tert ‐butylpyridine)][N(Bu) 4 ] ( 1 ) and [Ru(LH) 2 (NCS)(1‐methylbenzimidazole)][N(Bu) 4 ] ( 2 ) were synthesized from [Ru(LH) 2 (NCS) 2 ][N(Bu) 4 ] 2 (N719), (L = 2,2′‐bipyridyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid) and characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs or DSSCs) prepared with 1 and 2 have efficiencies that are three and two times lower than N719 cells, respectively. Analysis of the UV/Vis and incident‐photon‐to‐current efficiency (IPCE) spectra indicates that the main reason for the reduced efficiencies is a reduced electron collection efficiency ( η coll ). The substituted dyes give rise to lower potentials and currents. When measured at open circuit voltage illumination, the impedance is very different for such cells relative to N719 cells. Furthermore, the lifetime ( τ eff ) of the electrons in the TiO 2 is reduced by a factor of around ten. The low τ eff values may be related to the positive charge on dyes 1 and 2 , which results in an enhanced local concentration of I 3 – near the photoanode and thereby a higher dark current. N719 cells at higher temperature result in slightly lower potentials, and this alone leads to a change in impedance response when measured at open circuit voltage. The same parts of the impedance spectrum are affected (i.e., the interface between the photoanode and the electrolyte is affected in the same way) when we compare data from N719 heated cells and DSCs prepared with 1 or 2 and not thermally treated.