Effect of increased surface area of stainless steel substrates on the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In order to increase the electrical contact area between TiO(2) particles and stainless steel (StSt) substrates of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), StSt foil was roughened electrochemically using sulfuric acid with some additives. Compared with the DSSC with nontreated StSt substrate, DSSC with this roughened StSt substrate showed a 33% increase in light-to-electricity conversion efficiency with negligible effect on open circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy clearly confirmed that the increased performance was due to a decreased electrical resistance at the TiO(2)/StSt interface. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.