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Testing the performance of dye sensitized solar cells under various temperature and humidity environments

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Abstract

Temperature and humidity are the two vital outdoor factors that significantly affect the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) efficiency. The complete performance of DSSCs depends on various aspects including electrolyte properties, dye adsorption over semiconductor, charge separation, etc. Both the temperature and humidity may influence DSSCs on these aspects to affect their performance. In this study, DSSCs were prepared and tested under various temperature and humidity conditions. It was observed that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs was significantly decreased by ~ 48% while the temperature was increased from 25 to 60 °C. Further, the PCE was dropped by ~ 67% when both the temperature and humidity were increased together from 25 to 60 °C and 75 to 100% respectively. High temperature and humid conditions may lead to dye desorption at semiconductor, electrolyte decomposition, and increase charge recombination. High temperature and high humidity exhibited a great impact on the JSC and VOC and hence they decreased the overall performance of the device. This work shall substantially contribute to the understanding of progress of DSSCs for their performance in real weather conditions for possible commercialization.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank ‘Central Analytical Facilities (CAF)’ and ‘Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility (SAIF)’, Manipal University Jaipur for providing the materials characterization facility. NT and VSD acknowledge the funding support from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India, under Grant No. [EMR/2016/006259] and PKS acknowledge to Grant No. [CRG/2021/002477-G].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solar Energy Conversion and Nanomaterials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India

    Neeraj Tomar & Praveen K. Surolia

  2. Department of Computer and Communication Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India

    Vijaypal Singh Dhaka

Authors
  1. Neeraj Tomar
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  2. Vijaypal Singh Dhaka
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  3. Praveen K. Surolia
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Contributions

NT performed formal analysis, investigation, and written original draft. VSD contributed to conceptualization, and resources. PKS was involved in supervision, review & editing of the original draft.

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Correspondence to Vijaypal Singh Dhaka or Praveen K. Surolia.

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Tomar, N., Dhaka, V.S. & Surolia, P.K. Testing the performance of dye sensitized solar cells under various temperature and humidity environments. J Appl Electrochem 54, 573–580 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-023-01983-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-023-01983-z

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