New Metal Free Organic Dyes Based DSSC with Graphite-PSS: PEDOT Counter Electrode

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have emerged as an efficient third generation solar cells. This is a photo-electrochemical cell where the junction consists of a semiconductor–electrolyte interface.  The DSSC was fabricated using TiO2 nanoparticles, wide band gap semiconductor, as anode. Graphite-PSS: PEDOT as effective counter electrode due to high work function which enhances cells performance and iodide-triiodide as redox electrolyte. Though conventional Si-Solar cells have still dominated the market, DSSCs provide a cheap and efficient alternate for solar energy conversion. Till date metallic dyes based DSSCs have showed highest efficiency. But higher cost, relative low abundance of most metals like Ruthenium and environmental hazards limits their extensive use in the research. DSSC needs to be less cheap and more efficient than Si-solar cells to replace later commercially. Organic dyes offer a low cost alternate at the cost of efficiency for DSSC. In this paper new organic dyes Phloxin B, Amido Black and Indigo Carmine were used as photosensitizers. The photoelectrochemical properties were observed for these dyes in different solvents at 1.5 AM condition.