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Fabrication of copper oxide-based dye-sensitized solar cell with high short-circuit current density (JSC) using flexible and binder-free porous photoelectrode

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Abstract

Fabrication of flexible p-type dye-sensitized solar cells with large short-circuit current (JSC) and open circuit voltage (VOC) is still a challenging problem. In this context, we report the construction and testing of a p-type dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) based on a porous Cu2O thin film on copper substrate as a free-binder photoelectrode, using P1 dye and an electrolyte based on the I3−/I− redox couple. A simple and low-cost hydrothermal method is proposed using ethyl cellulose or polyvinylpyrrolidone as a surfactant to synthesize the porous Cu2O thin film on copper substrate. The best cell yielded a high short-circuit current density JSC of 11.7 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage VOC of 0.502 V and a power conversion efficiency η of 1.32% under 1 sun. The porous structure of the Cu2O film caused by ethyl cellulose is responsible for the high JSC, providing the high dye loading capacity of the DSSC due to their large specific surface areas and highly efficient visible light-harvesting ability. Even if further improvement is requested, the high short-circuit current density value highlighted that this flexible photocathode could be considered an interesting candidate for the development of flexible p-type or tandem dye-sensitized solar cells.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, the Project Number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-2091.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Politehnica University Timisoara, Piata Victoriei Street 2, 300006, Timisoara, Romania

    Melinda Vajda, Nicolae Miclau & Narcis Duteanu

  2. National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Dr. A. Păunescu-Podeanu Street 144, 300569, Timisoara, Romania

    Melinda Vajda, Daniel Ursu & Marinela Miclau

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  1. Melinda Vajda
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Correspondence to Marinela Miclau.

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Vajda, M., Ursu, D., Miclau, N. et al. Fabrication of copper oxide-based dye-sensitized solar cell with high short-circuit current density (JSC) using flexible and binder-free porous photoelectrode. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 20790–20801 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-08888-1

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