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Aging effect in dye-sensitized solar cells sealed with thermoplastic films

Mian-En Yeoh (Centre for Advanced Devices and Systems, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia)
Adrian Jaloman (Centre for Advanced Devices and Systems, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia)
Kah-Yoong Chan (Centre for Advanced Devices and Systems, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia and Research Institute for Digital Lifestyle, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia)

Microelectronics International

ISSN: 1356-5362

Article publication date: 26 April 2019

Issue publication date: 21 May 2019

139

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the aging effect in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) sealed with thermoplastic film and to compare it with unsealed DSSCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the steps of the fabrication of standard DSSC, as well as the DSSC-sealing processes, by using thermoplastic film. Current-voltage characterization was performed to observe the changes in efficiency, fill factor, short circuit current density and open circuit voltage for both unsealed and sealed DSSCs for aging time up to 336 h.

Findings

The unsealed DSSC showed significant drop in efficiency from 4.26 to 2.42 per cent within the first 5.5 h of aging time because of the leakage and volatilization of the solvent in the electrolyte. On the other hand, the sealed DSSC exhibited a gradual improvement of efficiency from 4.16 to 4.73 per cent after the first 216 h of aging time. The initial efficiency increment can be ascribed to the improved adsorption of electrolyte into the titanium dioxide film because of the gradual desorption of excess dye from TiO2 with increasing aging time.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the importance of the proper sealing process for the long-term operation of DSSC.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge MMU and TM R&D for providing financial sponsorship to facilitate this research project under MMU-GRA scheme 2016 and TM R&D Research Grant 2017 (project code: MMUE/170011), respectively.

Citation

Yeoh, M.-E., Jaloman, A. and Chan, K.-Y. (2019), "Aging effect in dye-sensitized solar cells sealed with thermoplastic films", Microelectronics International, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 68-72. https://doi.org/10.1108/MI-11-2018-0075

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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