Spectral response and IV-characterization of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells

Dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells (nc-DSCs) are based on a fu ndamentally different working principle than solar cells based on semicondu ctors. This could have implications for the characterization of nc-DSCs. In this study a comparison is made between two methods for determination of t he spectral response of nc-DSCs. The standard method for determination of t he spectral response according to the ASTM E1021-84 norm appears to be vali d for the nc-DSC. The response of the solar cell to pulsed irradiation play s an important role in this determination, since pulsed illumination of the solar cell is involved. The response time of the nc-DSC is related to elec tron trapping in the TiO2 and depends on illumination conditions and also o n chemical composition of the cell. For this reason, prior to measurements of spectral response of nc-DSCs, the response time of the cell should be me asured under the same illumination conditions that are applied during spect ral response measurements. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.