LOW-COST PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES BASED ON DYE-SENSITIZED NANOCRYSTALLINETITANIUM-DIOXIDE AND CARBON POWDER

A new type of photovoltaic module based on monolithically series conne cted dye sensitized photoelectrochemical cells is described. Each sola r cell element consists of three porous layers on a transparent conduc ting substrate, namely a photoelectrode of dye sensitized nanocrystall ine TiO2 (anatase), a spacer of electrically insulating, light reflect ing particles of TiO2 (rutile), and a counterelectrode of graphite pow der and carbon black. The pores of these layers are filled with a redo x electrolyte containing iodide for hole transport between photo- and counterelectrode. The monolithic series connection on the transparent conducting substrate, e.g., SnO2 coated glass, is achieved by simple o verlap of each carbon counterelectrode with the back contact of the ad jacent photoelectrode. Such modules may be produced in a continuous no n-vacuum process by simple printing techniques. In this paper we prese nt the first results on energy conversion efficiency and long term sta bility obtained with this new type of solar cell.