Fabrication and characterization of mixture type dye-sensitized solar cells with organic dyes

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells with organic dyes such as xylenol orange, rose bengal and erythrosine B were fabricated and characterized. Gel electrolyte based on polyacrylonitrile was used to improve its durability. A solar cell mixed with xylenol orange and rose bengal showed a wide optical absorption in the visible range, and yielded a high conversion efficiency compared to the other solar cells in the present work. Microstructures of TiO2 electrode was also investigated by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. A mechanism of photovoltaic properties of the dye-sensitized solar cells was discussed on experimental results and the energy level diagram. © 2009 The Ceramic Society of Japan.