Investigation of photovoltaic properties of nanostructure indoline dye-sensitised solar cells using changes in assembling materials

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study assembling parameters in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) performance. For this end, 3a,7a-dihydroxy-5ß-cholanic acid (cheno) are selected as anti-aggregation agent and two solutions, namely, tetrabutyl ammonium iodide and (PMII)IL used as electrolyte.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of organic dyes were selected using N-substituents carbazole as electron donor group and acrylic acid and cyanoacrylic acid as electron acceptor groups. Absorption properties of purified dyes were studied in solution and on photoelectrode substrate. DSSCs were prepared in the presence of anti-aggregation agent and different electrolyte to determine the photovoltaic performance of each dyes.

Findings

The results showed that all organic dyes form J-aggregation on the photoanode substrate in the absence of anti-aggregation agent and the amounts of aggregation were reduced in the presence of anti-aggregation agent. DSSCs were fabricated in the presence of anti-aggregation agent. The photovoltaic properties were improved using tetrabutyl ammonium iodide as electrolyte. The maximum power conversion efficiency was achieved for D12 in the presence of cheno and tetrabutyl ammonium iodide as anti-aggregation agent and electrolyte, respectively.

Social implications

Organic dye attracts more and more attention due to low cost, facile route synthesis and less hazardous.

Originality/value

The effect of anti-aggregation agent and electrolyte on DSSCs performance was investigated for the first time.

Citation

Hosseinnezhad, M. and Gharanjig, K. (2017), "Investigation of photovoltaic properties of nanostructure indoline dye-sensitised solar cells using changes in assembling materials", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 46 No. 5, pp. 393-398. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-04-2016-0044