Low-Cost, Large-Area Nanocrystalline TiO 2 -Polymer Solar Cells on Flexible Plastics

This paper describes our recent research on the development of fully flexible and low-cost dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO 2 solar cells (DSSC). At EIC Laboratories, we have developed various large-area solid-state versions, which include both ionically, and hole-conducting allpolymer DSSCs made by continuous coating and lamination process. Various critical steps involve ∼10 micron thick nanocrystalline TiO 2 film deposition on conducting PET plastics by various methods such as spraying, spin coating, and screen printing, a low temperature sintering (∼150°C) process, and polymer laminated electrolyte have been demonstrated as valuable active components. The photovoltaic (PV) performance presented in this paper show the fabricated solar cells of ∼1.2 cm 2 area with reproducible AM1.5 (Air Mass 1.5) efficiencies of 4.7%. A prototype solar cell with a new hole conducting star polymer with AM 1.5 efficiency ∼2.12% has been thoroughly characterized and discussed.