Surfaces and interfaces in the dye sensitized solar cell

by Prof. Mats Göthelid (KTH-Kista)

Thursday 20 Jan 2011, 09:15 → 10:00 Europe/Stockholm

FA32

Since the invention of the dye-sensitized solar cell by Prof. Michael Grätzel, much effort has been devoted to enhance the performance through improved dyes, electrolytes, additives, the nano-structured TiO2 working electrodes and the metal counter electrode. The system contains several interfaces; the oxide-dye, the dye-electrolyte and the electrolyte-metal electrode, and they all play important roles in the overall function of the solar cell. The energy level alignment at the dye-electrode heterojunction is a significant factor affecting the transfer of photo-excited electrons and the open circuit voltage. How does this depend on the surface structure, the bond geometry and the molecular structure? What is the role of additives in the electrolyte? What happens when the molecule is illuminated? In this talk I will present our work on those interfaces using model systems, how we can move to more realistic systems and how these results can be transferred to real solar cells. Acknowledgements The economical support from the Swedish Energy Agency (STEM), the Swedish Research Council (VR), the Göran Gustafsson and Carl Trygger Foundations and Queensland government is kindly acknowledged.