N719 and D149 dyes: appropriate sensitizers for bare SnO2 and MgO coated SnO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells

K. Umair; L. Dissanayake M. A. K.; G. K. R. Senadeera

doi:10.1117/12.2592716

1 August 2021 N719 and D149 dyes: appropriate sensitizers for bare SnO₂ and MgO coated SnO₂ based dye-sensitized solar cells

K. Umair, L. Dissanayake M. A. K. , G. K. R. Senadeera

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Proceedings Volume 11824, New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion IV; 1182405 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2592716
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2021, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

SnO₂ is an attractive semiconducting material suitable for application as the photoanode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to its favourable properties such as wide band gap and notable photo stability. However, improved solar cell performances can be achieved by using composites of SnO2 with several other materials like Al2O3 or MgO. In this study photovoltaic performances of DSSCs with pristine SnO₂ and SnO₂ coated MgO composite photoanodes were investigated with two different dyes, namely Ruthenium N719 and metal free Indoline D149. Significant difference in the efficiencies was observed in DSSCs made with liquid electrolyte having I^-/I3^- redox couple and Pt counter electrode. DSSC fabricated with D149 sensitized pristine SnO₂ showed higher efficiency of 2.07% compared to the efficiency of 1.07% for the DSSC sensitized with N719. Higher energy level of the, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of D149 than that of N719 and the higher insulating nature of the metal free D149 could be possible reasons which could help rapid electron transfer from the excited dye molecules to the conduction band (CB) of the semiconductor and reduction of recombination of the electrons in the device. It was also observed that DSSC fabricated with N719 sensitized SnO₂/MgO composite photoanode exhibited higher efficiency of 3.43% than the efficiency of 0.67 % for the DSSC having D149 sensitized photoanode. Higher insulating nature of the metal free D149 layer and the SnO₂/Dye interface due to the insertion of MgO would have reduced the electron transfer from the excited dye molecules to the CB of the semiconductor. Therefore, metal free dyes could be used effectively to sensitize pristine SnO₂ photoanode.

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K. Umair, L. Dissanayake M. A. K. , and G. K. R. Senadeera "N719 and D149 dyes: appropriate sensitizers for bare SnO₂ and MgO coated SnO₂ based dye-sensitized solar cells", Proc. SPIE 11824, New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion IV, 1182405 (1 August 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2592716

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KEYWORDS

Dye sensitized solar cells

Composites

Absorption

Semiconductors

Solar energy

Bioalcohols

Crystals

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