Abstract:
Dye-sensitized solar cells are having an essential role in future photovoltaic devices. To
improve the efficiency of DSSC is become very relevant and we are trying it by doing a
simple solution method HCl treatment on photoanodes before dye anchoring. So we
have used two different dyes for this purpose in this project. Ruthenium based N719
dye, which has been reported for high photon to current conversion efficiency in DSSC.
And a squarine based organic SQ1 dye, as it is more environmental friendly and having
great importance. And by using the solution method treatment of HCl, we were
successfully increased the efficiency of N719 dye and SQ1 dye. This is mainly because
of the surface protonation taking place at the photoanodes by the HCl treatment, and
we have confirmed it by different characterization techniques. As both the dyes are
having a carboxylic anchoring group, surface protonation having an essential role in dye
anchoring. Dye desorption studies carried out to understand how dye anchoring effect is
effected by HCl treatment. With the help of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,
we were able to detect the increment in the recombination resistance, chemical
capacitance and lifetime of the electrons of the HCl treated devices. The method we
have used is easier, efficient and low cost to improve DSSC efficiency.
