Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microfluidic housing system: a useful tool for the analysis of dye-sensitized solar cell components

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to understand the behavior of the different dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) components, an in-situ analysis should give fundamental help but it is impossible to be performed without compromising the integrity of the cell. Our recently proposed novel microfluidic approach for the fabrication of DSCs is based on a reversible sealing of the two transparent electrodes and it allows the easy assembling and disassembling of the cell, making possible an analysis of the components over time. The aim of this work is not to investigate the different degradation mechanisms of a standard DSC: we want to show that, by using a microfluidic architecture, it is possible to perform a non-destructive analysis and to monitor the photoanode and the counter electrode properties during their lifetime. Morphological (field emission scanning electron microscopy), wetting (contact angle), optical (UV-visible spectroscopy) and electrical (current–voltage and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements under standard AM1.5G illumination) characterizations have been performed over a period of three weeks. The results show how the variation of the wetting and morphological properties at the counter electrode and of the dye absorbance at the photoanode are strongly related to the decrease of the cell performances as evidenced by electrical characterization, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the use of our structure in this kind of studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. Yella, H.W. Lee, H.N. Tsao, C. Yi, A.K. Chandiran, M.K. Nazeeruddin, E.W.G. Diau, C.Y. Yeh, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Grätzel, Science 334, 629 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. B. O’Regan, M. Grätzel, Nature 335, 737 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Grätzel, Nature 414, 338 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. G.B. Wang, M.G. Fu, B. Lu, G.P. Du, L. Li, X.M. Qin, W.Z. Shi, Appl. Phys. A 100, 1169 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. H. Kim, R.C.Y. Auyeung, M. Ollinger, G.P. Kushto, Z.H. Kafafi, A. Piqué, Appl. Phys. A 83, 73 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. C.Y. Chen, M. Wang, J.Y. Li, N. Pootrakulchote, L. Alibabaei, C.H. Ngoc-le, J.D. Decoppet, J.H. Tsai, C. Grätzel, C.G. Wu, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Grätzel, ACS Nano 3(10), 3103 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. J.M. Kroon, N.J. Bakker, H.J.P. Smit, P. Liska, K.R. Thampi, P. Wang, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Grätzel, A. Hinsch, S. Hore, U. Würfel, R. Sastrawan, J.R. Durrant, E. Palomares, H. Pettersson, T. Gruszecki, J. Walter, K. Skupien, G.E. Tulloch, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 15, 1 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. D. Shi, N. Pootrakulchote, R. Li, J. Guo, Y. Wang, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Grätzel, P. Wang, J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 17046 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. R. Harikisun, H. Desilvestro, Sol. Energy 85, 1179 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. A. Hinsch, J.M. Kroon, R. Kern, I. Uhlendorf, J. Holzbock, A. Meyer, J. Ferber, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 9, 425 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. B. Macht, M. Turrión, A. Barkschat, P. Salvador, K. Ellmer, H. Tributsch, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 73, 163 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. E. Olsen, G. Hagen, S.E. Lindquist, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 63, 267 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. H.G. Agrell, J. Lindgren, A. Hagfeldt, Sol. Energy 75, 169 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. H.L. Lu, T.F.R. Shen, S.T. Huang, Y.L. Tung, T.C.K. Yang, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 95, 1624 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Y. Lyu, A. Hagfeldt, X.R. Xiao, S.E. Lindquist, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 55, 267 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Toivola, L. Peltokorpi, J. Halme, P. Lund, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1733 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. A. Lamberti, A. Sacco, S. Bianco, E. Giuri, M. Quaglio, A. Chiodoni, E. Tresso, Microelectron. Eng. 88, 2308 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. A. Sacco, A. Lamberti, M. Quaglio, S. Bianco, E. Tresso, A.L. Alexe-Ionescu, C.F. Pirri, Int. J. Photoenergy 2012, 216780 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J.R. Macdonald, Ann. Biomed. Eng. 20, 289 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. A. Fattori, M.L. Peter, S.R. Belding, R.G. Compton, F. Marken, J. Electroanal. Chem. 640, 61 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. B. Enright, G. Redmond, D. Fitzmaurice, J. Phys. Chem. 98, 6195 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. F. Fabregat-Santiago, J. Bisquert, G. Garcia-Belmonte, G. Boschloo, A. Hagfeldt, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 87, 117 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. A. Usami, S. Seki, Y. Mita, H. Kobayashi, H. Miyashiro, N. Terada, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 93, 840 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. G. Syrrokostas, A. Siokou, G. Leftheriotis, P. Yianoulis, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 103, 119 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank A. Nesca for the technical support in PMMA mould fabrication and A. Virga for the aid in UV-visible spectroscopy measurement.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Space Human Robotics @PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Trento 21, Torino, 10129, Italy

    A. Sacco, A. Lamberti, D. Pugliese, A. Chiodoni, N. Shahzad, S. Bianco, M. Quaglio, R. Gazia, E. Tresso & C. F. Pirri

  2. Applied Science and Technology Department, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, 10129, Italy

    A. Lamberti, D. Pugliese, N. Shahzad, E. Tresso & C. F. Pirri

Authors
  1. A. Sacco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Lamberti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Pugliese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Chiodoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. Shahzad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Bianco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Quaglio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. R. Gazia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. E. Tresso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. C. F. Pirri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Sacco.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sacco, A., Lamberti, A., Pugliese, D. et al. Microfluidic housing system: a useful tool for the analysis of dye-sensitized solar cell components. Appl. Phys. A 109, 377–383 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7268-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7268-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation