Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Novel Mixed Dyes

Novel phthalocyanine derivative and azo derivative have been synthesized as photosensitizers for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We used sot-gel method to prepare the titanium oxide (TiO2) membrane electrode of the DSSCs. The crystalline phase and surface morphology of TiO2 were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to investigate the effects of processing parameters on the films characteristic, microstructure and thickness. The performance of DSSCs was characterized by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and current-voltage curve analysis. The sensitizing properties of phthalocyanine derivative, azo derivative and mixed dyes were studied, and it was found that the cell consisted of mixed dyes generated the highest power conversion efficiency (eta) of 2.3 %, short circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) of 13.6 mA cm(-2), open circuit photovoltage (V-oc) of 0.46 V and fill factor (FF) of 0.37 under simulated AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm(-2)) with a active area of 0.25 cm(2).