It is a colloidal suspension of porous nanocrystalline TiO2, the particles are 10-50nm in size after grinding with the mortar and pestle. This exact size depends partly on how long you grind it. The applied layer is 7-10 microns thick.
@Jacknotzak We didn't try many other variations. potassium triiodide is the preferred electrolyte. I have heard that tincture works. The sheet metal might work, but it might create an electrolytic action that creates a current that either adds to or detracts from the photocurrent. And did reuse the ITO slides repeatedly. Wash them gently with soap and then acetone, the ITO coating is pretty tough.
This is an laboratory training video to teach basic thin film methods and provide a basis for students to design their own experiments. This particular device has no practical value but dye sensitized TiO2 Graetzel cells are large research area which is beginning to produce commercial products.
I keep reading about how dye sensitized solar cells are cheaper than silicon based photovoltaics, how they are becoming more efficient, and how there's ongoing research with them. If they are truly so efficient, why have they not gone into production on a larger scale? Gratzel's company has put them into production with a small-scale mobile product, but what currently stands in the way of larger-scale implementations like rooftop power arrays analogous to photovoltatic rooftop arrays?
Fascinating. I assume that as long as the electrolyte remains as a fluid, the dye does not break down? If this is the case, one could possibly prolong the cell life by sealing the edges of the cell with CyanoAcrylate glue.
I have tried 2 attempts with metal. I am using a gas stove and burner. On both attempts the TIO2 did NOT Anneal and stick (you could rub it off). Either more heat is needed, or in the example with slides the TIO2 maybe annealing with the SNO2 layer. Note that in my trial, the dye didnt stain the TIO2. Thus the oxidation of the TIO2 was still current. I will try a TIO2&Sno2 mix right now.
Tincture will have some triodide I3- ion but it also has a significant amount of alcohol which may interfere with the electroylte properties. You can give it a try.
I have a bunch of questions: Will it work with Povodone-iodine or Potassium triiodide dissolved in water? Can we substitute a sheet of metal for the conductive glass which is to be covered with soot? And lastly, can the glass be cleaned and reused to make another solar cell?
Great video! Thanx! What is the conversion performance of such a cell? Can these cells be made in larger sizes, say 2x2 ft (4 sq ft)? Would that reduce the performance or alter the characteristics of the cell in any way?
i have a question i am doing my master's dissertation on DSSC and i wanna knw why to we need to heat the slide? if possible can we reduce the temperature and increase the time? cause i tried to heat my slide in an oven at 220 C and it cracked completely same observation when i tried to flame it?
Hi, good video :) thanks :). I have a little doubt, i'm working with DSSCs, and, when i do the process to deposit the thin film of TiO2 by the Dr. Blade method, i have cracking in the film. I have probe some suspensions, but the problem is not resolve. Do you known something to prevent that? Greetings and thanks again :)
Hello, I prepared TiO2 layer in a sligthly alternative way (spraying), but the dye doesn't seem to stick :/. Do you have any idea what could cause this?
The efficiency of this demo cell is quite low. Three in series could not match the output from a single small silicon cell. G24 Innovations makes a graetzel cell the claim has 12% efficiency.
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