A new method to make dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells at room temperature

This paper describes a new method for manufacturing a nanostructured porous layer of a semiconductor material at room temperature. The porous layer is pressed on a conducting glass or plastic substrate for use in a dye-sensit ized nanocrystalline solar cell. The method C compresses the particle layer to form a mechanically stable, electrically conducting, porous nanostructu red film. Overall, solar to electric conversion efficiencies of up to 5.2% at 0.1 sun using plastic substrates have been obtained. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience B.V All rights reserved.