Understanding charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells using an experimentally validated coupled optical and electrical model

Wenger, Sophie; Schmid, Matthias; Rothenberger, Guido; Grätzel, Michael; Schumacher, Jürgen

Publication type:	Conference other
Type of review:	Not specified
Title:	Understanding charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells using an experimentally validated coupled optical and electrical model
Authors:	Wenger, Sophie Schmid, Matthias Rothenberger, Guido Grätzel, Michael Schumacher, Jürgen
Conference details:	MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 5-9 April 2010
Issue Date:	Apr-2010
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Material Research Society (MRS)
Language:	English
Subjects:	Dye sensitized solar cell; Characterization; Modelling
Subject (DDC):	540: Chemistry 621.3: Electrical, communications, control engineering
Abstract:	The mathematical description of charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells requires equations specific to nanostructured electrochemical devices. Charge transport in the mesoporous TiO2 film is generally assumed to be purely diffusive (no drift component) due to the high ionic strength of the electrolyte permeating the pores. Experiments have repeatedly shown electron lifetimes in the ms range, which depend on illumination intensity, suggesting a trapping-limited transport. The electron diffusion length is in the order of the TiO2 film thickness (~10 μm) which induces a photovoltage of about 0.8 V under full sun illumination. We have previously developed a validated optical model based on coherent and incoherent optics to accurately calculate the charge generation function in a complete device. The optical model is coupled to a linear electrical transport model via the charge generation function as source term. From the analytical solution, one can calculate the steady-state behavior, e.g. I-V curves. This paper presents our next steps in developing a spatially resolved time-dependent model to calculate the response of the cell to small perturbations (e.g. illumination or applied potential). Here, the trap distribution and the electron recombination route via the TiO2 conduction band and possibly via surface states come into play. From the numerical solution of this extended model one can extract electron lifetimes and electron diffusion coefficients from time-dependent measurements and further simulate the parameters for any defined experimental condition, e.g. at the maximum power point.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/11670
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Engineering
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Computational Physics (ICP)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Engineering

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Wenger, S., Schmid, M., Rothenberger, G., Grätzel, M., & Schumacher, J. (2010, April). Understanding charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells using an experimentally validated coupled optical and electrical model. MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 5-9 April 2010.

Wenger, S. et al. (2010) ‘Understanding charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells using an experimentally validated coupled optical and electrical model’, in MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 5-9 April 2010. Material Research Society (MRS).

S. Wenger, M. Schmid, G. Rothenberger, M. Grätzel, and J. Schumacher, “Understanding charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells using an experimentally validated coupled optical and electrical model,” in MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 5-9 April 2010, Apr. 2010.

WENGER, Sophie, Matthias SCHMID, Guido ROTHENBERGER, Michael GRÄTZEL und Jürgen SCHUMACHER, 2010. Understanding charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells using an experimentally validated coupled optical and electrical model. In: MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 5-9 April 2010. Conference presentation. Material Research Society (MRS). April 2010

Wenger, Sophie, Matthias Schmid, Guido Rothenberger, Michael Grätzel, and Jürgen Schumacher. 2010. “Understanding Charge Transport and Recombination in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using an Experimentally Validated Coupled Optical and Electrical Model.” Conference presentation. In MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 5-9 April 2010. Material Research Society (MRS).

Wenger, Sophie, et al. “Understanding Charge Transport and Recombination in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using an Experimentally Validated Coupled Optical and Electrical Model.” MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 5-9 April 2010, Material Research Society (MRS), 2010.