Influence of Sodium Cations of N3 Dye on the Photovoltaic Performance and Stabi...

• Author(s): Luísa Andrade ; Shaik M. Zakeeruddin ; Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin ; Helena Aguilar Ribeiro ; Adélio Mendes ; Michael Graetzel
• Date: 2009
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10216/67949
• Origin: Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto
• Subject(s): Ciências Tecnológicas; Engenharia; Engenharia química
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

We report on the effect of substituting the two tetrabutyl am-monium counter ions of the standard N719 dye by sodium ions on the performance and stability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The disodium analogue of N719 in conjunction with a non-volatile electrolyte gives a conversion efficiency of 7.6% under standard global AM 1.5 sunlight. Devices maintain 99% of their initial performance after 1000 h under full sun-light aging at 50 8C. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and photovoltage transient decay studies reveal the evolution of the solar cell parameters during aging. Remarkably, upon aging a decrease in the rate of electron back reaction with the triiodide ions across the TiO2/electrolyte interface appears as well as enhanced electronic conduction in the TiO2 film.