Surface Cleaning and Modification by High Intense UV-Irradition for TiO2 Nanoparticle Films in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

The preparation of the front electrodes in high efficient dye sensitized solar cells usually need high process temperatures to remove dispersal additives and to enable sintering effects. This leads to a reduction of the serial resistance caused by potential barriers inside the nano particulate TiO2 layer, and to a better dye adherence. Nevertheless this temperature treatment is not applicable on ITO-covered foils used for flexible devices, but this limitation can be partly compensated by an intensive UV-exposure. Furthermore it is possible to increase the efficiency of a sintered DSSC applying an additional UV-irradiation by about 26 %.