C. J. Li, G. J. Yang, L. Z. Zhang, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; S. Q. Fan, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) has recently attracted much attention as a new low-cost solar cell. Porous nano-crystalline TiO2 coatings were employed as photoelectrode of DSC. TiO2 coatings are generally prepared by doctor blade process using ceramic slurry following by sintering at a high temperature. A low temperature preparation process is required for usage of flexible polymer substrates. In this study, porous nano-TiO2 coating was prepared by vacuum cold spray at room temperature. A commercial dye (N719) was adsorbed on the surface within the TiO2 coating to assemble a dye-sensitized solar cell. The cell performance was measured under simulated solar light at an intensity of 100 mW cm-2. Results show that the porosity of the as-sprayed coating was 54% and the average pore size was 26 nm. The assembled solar cell yielded a short-current density of 8.4mA/cm2 and an energy conversion efficiency of 2.6%. The results show that vacuum cold spraying was a promising method to prepared TiO2 coating at a low temperature for dye-sensitized solar cell.
Summary: Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) has recently attracted much attention as a new low-cost solar cell. Porous nano-crystalline TiO2 coatings were employed as photoelectrode of DSC. TiO2 coatings are generally prepared by doctor blade process using ceramic slurry following by sintering at a high temperature. A low temperature preparation process is required for usage of flexible polymer substrates. In this study, porous nano-TiO2 coating was prepared by vacuum cold spray at room temperature. A commercial dye (N719) was adsorbed on the surface within the TiO2 coating to assemble a dye-sensitized solar cell. The cell performance was measured under simulated solar light at an intensity of 100 mW cm-2. Results show that the porosity of the as-sprayed coating was 54% and the average pore size was 26 nm. The assembled solar cell yielded a short-current density of 8.4mA/cm2 and an energy conversion efficiency of 2.6. The results show that vacuum cold spraying was a promising method to prepared TiO2 coating at a low temperature for dye-sensitized solar cell.
