Dye Sensitised Solar Cells

1
Dye Sensitised Solar Cells Electricity from
berries!
2
Introduction

• Youll be putting together a Dye Sensitised Solar
  Cell (DSSC) over the course of this workshop
• This will include
• Soaking a titanium dioxide electrode with dye
  (from blackberries)
• Coating conductive glass with carbon to form a
  second electrode
• Assembling solar cell and adding electrolyte
  solution

3
How do they work?
4
Part 1

• Soaking the electrode in dye
• Place your titania coated electrode in a glass
  petri dish with the titania facing up
• Use a pipette to drop blackberry juice onto the
  slide until it is fully covered
• Cover the petri dish and leave to soak for at
  least 10 minutes

5
Organic bulk hetero-junction solar cells
http//www.solarmer.com
http//www.solarmer.com
6
Dye Sensitised Solar Cells

• Grätzel cell invented in 1988
• Most efficient DSSC is around 11.9
• Typical Si based panels on homes are around 15
  -17 efficient (best laboratory efficiency 25)
• Upscaling research cells generally results in
  efficiency losses

7
(No Transcript)
8
Artificial Photosynthesis
9
Part 2

• Rinse the dye coated electrode with distilled
  water and then with ethanol. Leave to dry.
• Coat your counter electrode with carbon and wipe
  edges.
• Assemble the two glass plates with coated sides
  together, but offset so that uncoated glass
  extends beyond the sandwich. Clamp the plates
  together with binder clips
• Add a couple of drops of electrolyte solution
• Test your solar cell!

10
Discussion

• Our cells today, about 0.5 1 efficient
• Cheap silicon solar cells approx. 20x better per
  unit area
• Equivalent power is about 0.3 mg of coal per hour
• This is one of the many reasons why transitioning
  to renewable energy is so difficult

11
Discussion

• Why would we use TiO2 nanoparticles and not a
  solid layer?
• Can you think of any design improvements for the
  cell?
• Hint what colour(s) would the dye be absorbing?

12
Discussion

• Why would we use TiO2 nanoparticles and not a
  solid layer?

13
Discussion

• Why would we use TiO2 nanoparticles and not a
  solid layer?
• The porous TiO2 film gives us a huge surface area
  to be able to coat with dye molecules, maximising
  the amount of light that can be absorbed
• Can you think of any design improvements for the
  cell?
• Hint how could we improve the dye?

14
Discussion

• Can you think of any design improvements for the
  cell?
• The absorbance spectra for blackberry juice is
  shown below

15
Discussion

• Can you think of any design improvements for the
  cell?
• The absorbance of blackberry juice is now
  overlayed with the solar emission

16
Discussion

• Why would we use TiO2 nanoparticles and not a
  solid layer?
• The porous TiO2 film gives us a huge surface area
  to be able to coat with dye molecules, maximising
  the amount of light that can be absorbed
• Can you think of any design improvements for the
  cell?
• By better matching the absorbance of the dye(s)
  used we would be able to increase the amount of
  visible light we are converting into electricity,
  resulting in much better efficiencies of the cell

17
Nanotechnology at Flinders

• Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology)
  ATAR entry 70.00
• Quantum Nanostructures stream
• SACE stage 2 chemistry, physics and
  mathematical studies
• Biomedical Nanotechnology stream
• SACE stage 2 chemistry
• Bachelor of Science (ATAR entry 70.00)
• Extended major, major or minor in physics
• Extended major, major or minor in chemistry
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) (ATAR entry 80.00)
• Bachelor of Science High Achievers Program
  (Honours)
• At least three of SACE Stage 2 Biology,
  Chemistry, Geology, Mathematical Studies,
  Physics, Specialist Mathematics. ATAR entry 95.00

18
(No Transcript)