A new low-temperature fabrication method of dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A new fabrication method of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is presented in this chapter. The traditional fabrication methods of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using high-temperature processes for working electrodes have been ameliorated. In the new method, TiO2 powder was ground with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for the fabrication of working electrodes and graphite powder was ground with PDMS for relative electrodes. The mixtures for both the working and relative electrodes were coated on ITO-glass substrates by the doctor blade technique. PDMS was able to enhance the adhesion of the film and the substrate as well as reduce film cracks. The process temperature of the proposed fabrication method was 150 C. The low process temperature allows the usage of the plastic substrate for the DSSC. This leads to the advantages of low costs and substrate flexibility. The proposed method demonstrates a promising future for the flexible applications of DSSCs. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.