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Laser processing of TiO 2 films for dye solar cells: a thermal, sintering, throughput and embodied energy investigation
Author(s) -
Mincuzzi G.,
SchulzRuhtenberg M.,
Vesce L.,
Reale A.,
Di Carlo A.,
Gillner A.,
Brown T. M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.2261
Subject(s) - materials science , sintering , energy conversion efficiency , selective laser sintering , nanocrystalline material , laser , throughput , dye sensitized solar cell , ultraviolet , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , optics , composite material , computer science , chemistry , telecommunications , physics , electrode , electrolyte , wireless
We have analysed and optimised a laser process for the sintering of the TiO 2 layers in dye solar cells (DSCs). Through a thermographic characterisation of the process, we show that it is possible to scale and process large areas uniformly (16 cm 2 ). We fabricated DSCs with nanocrystalline (nc)‐TiO 2 films sintered by using pulsed ultraviolet laser with an average output power P varying from 1 W to 7 W whilst mainting a constant power conversion efficiency η . The highest efficiency reached for a laser sintered DSC was 7%. The time required to sinter 1 m 2 of nc‐TiO 2 film was found to decrease hyperbolically with P , which is important for determining process takt times. We quantified the embodied energy ( EE ) required to sinter 1 m 2 of the active TiO 2 layer for a variety of different processes, and found that the EE for the laser sintering process with a system wall plug efficiency of 3.5% to be competitive with the more conventional oven and belt furnace treatments. We outline the main features required from a laser system to carry out an efficient, energetically favourable and industrially applicable automated process with competitive throughput. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.