Room-Temperature Processable TiO2 Solar Paint for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional silicon photovoltaics owing to their environmentally friendly nature, easy preparation, and low cost. However, a critical bottleneck in DSSC fabrication lies in the high-temperature treatment required for the metal-oxide, primarily titanium dioxide (TiO2), photoanode. This study presents an advanced approach aimed at overcoming this challenge by developing a facile and cost-effective room temperature processable TiO2 paste for large-scale device production and commercialization. In our investigation, TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel hydrothermal method. The resulting material served as the basis for a solar paint formulation, utilized as a precursor for the photoanode in tertiary butyl alcohol. Applying this paint, achieved with a simple paintbrush, eliminated the need for high-temperature curing, binders, and reduced chemical additives. This minimizes energy consumption during fabrication and enhances the interface quality and charge transport properties of the photoanode, as evidenced by photovoltaic impedance spectroscopy measurements.