Improving the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell by graphene

在过去的十年中，染料敏化太阳能电池(Dsscs)在一种新的 光伏器件的产生，由于其独特的特点，如低成本，简单和廉价 处理能力和简单的可扩展性。通过以下方式获得高功率转换效率(PCE超过10%) Gratzel和他的同事使用由N719染料敏化的二氧化钛介孔锐钛矿膜。这项提议旨在 为了开发石墨烯掺杂的二氧化钛光阳极以解决Nanophyll Inc.当前感兴趣的问题， 即提高传统数字用户终端的PCE和稳定性的解决方案。建议数 该方法是基于制备石墨烯掺杂的、石墨烯浓度可调的 二氧化钛，结合先进的太阳能电池表征和优化测量，以确定 这些参数优化了效率和稳定性。 此外，石墨烯掺杂的二氧化钛光阳极随后将用TiOx化学前驱体(用于 例如TiCl4)以覆盖石墨烯的表面，以最小化可能发生的电荷复合 在石墨烯和液体电解液的界面上，可以进一步提高相变效率和稳定性。 太阳能电池(掺杂或不掺杂石墨烯，在化学处理前后)将在随后 用拉曼光谱、X射线光电子能谱、扫描电子显微镜、 热重分析、原子力显微镜和X射线衍射法测定浓度 以及石墨烯在二氧化钛基质中的分布。PCE和制造的电池的稳定性将是 测量，这将允许确定最佳的石墨烯浓度和化学处理 进程。所有实施的治疗都将在Nanophyll和INRS之间的密切合作下实现，并 在我们的工业伙伴的可行性参数范围内，立即进行技术转让。

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been studied extensively during the last decade in the context of a new generation of photovoltaic devices, due to their unique features like low cost, simple and inexpensive processing and straightforward scalability. High power conversion efficiency (PCE over 10%) was obtained by Gratzel and co-workers by using a TiO2 mesoporous anatase film sensitized by N719 dye. This proposal aims to develop a graphene doped TiO2 photoanode to address a problem of current interest for Nanophyll Inc., namely a solution for the enhancement of the PCE and stability of traditional DSSCs. The proposed methodology is based on fabricating graphene doped DSSCs with a tunable concentration of graphene in the TiO2, combined with advanced measurements for solar cell characterization and optimization to determine which parameters optimize efficiency and stability. In addition, graphene doped TiO2 photoanodes will be subsequently treated by TiOx chemical precursors (for example TiCl4) to cover the surface of the graphene to minimize the possible charge recombination occurring at the interface of the graphene and the liquid electrolyte; this could further enhance the PCE and the stability. The solar cell (with or without graphene doping, before and after chemical treatment) will be subsequently characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Atomic Force Microscopy, and X-ray Diffraction to determine the concentration and distribution of graphene in the TiO2 matrix. The PCEs and the stability of the fabricated cells will be measured, which will allow the identification of the optimal graphene concentration and chemical treatment process. All implemented treatments will be achieved in close collaboration between Nanophyll and INRS and within the feasibility parameters of our industrial partner, for immediate technology transfer.