Dye-sensitized solar cell-thermoelectric hybrid generator utilizing bipolar conduction in a unified element

Abstract

The dye-sensitized solar cell-thermoelectric hybrid generator (DS-TEG), which is a hybridization of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and a thermoelectric generator (TEG) not at the structural level but in terms of material-level unification, is presented. The Pt-coated TE element provides electrons to the iodide/triiodide electrolyte to lower the redox barrier. This promotes the reduction of triiodide, resulting in a dramatic increase in the electron recombination lifetime. The available charge density, carrier diffusion coefficient and effective diffusion length were significantly increased when utilizing both types of carriers and acceleration in an iodide/triiodide reduction reaction in the unified DS-TEG.