Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Third Conducting Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dye-sensitized solar cells face significant electrical resistive losses due to the thickness of the porous substrate, which also compromises mechanical strength and handling, especially when using conducting media with low conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic dye-sensitized solar cell design incorporates a third conducting layer with a porous substrate that forms a conducting network through an insulating material, reducing the distance between the counter electrode and the light-absorbing layer and increasing the conductive surface area, allowing for a thicker substrate with improved mechanical properties while minimizing resistive losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the porous substrate is made thinner to reduce resistive losses, then electrical efficiency is improved, but mechanical strength and handling are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a conducting network only in specific regions where needed. The conducting particles are infiltrated into the porous substrate to form conductive pathways, while other regions maintain their insulating properties. This localized conduction reduces resistive losses in critical areas without requiring the entire substrate to be thin, thereby preserving mechanical strength in non-conductive regions.
2Loss of energy
If the porous substrate is made thinner to reduce the distance between electrodes, then electrical efficiency is improved, but ease of manufacture and handling are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The conducting network is selectively formed in regions where electrical conduction is needed, while other regions maintain the substrate's mechanical properties. This allows the substrate to be thin enough for efficient charge transport in conductive regions, while remaining handleable in non-conductive regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by infiltrating conducting particles into the porous substrate. This results in a composite material that combines the insulating properties of the substrate with the conductive properties of the particle network, achieving both electrical efficiency and mechanical robustness.
3Area of stationary object
If a conducting network is formed through the insulating substrate, then conductive surface area is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the inherent porosity of the substrate to form the conducting network. Conducting particles are infiltrated into the porous structure, naturally creating conductive pathways throughout the substrate volume. This approach increases conductive surface area without adding complex external structures, as the porosity itself provides the framework for the conducting network.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces electrical resistive losses and enhances the efficiency of the solar cell by enabling the use of thicker substrates and low-conductivity media, such as solid state hole conductors, while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a third conducting layer (6a, 6b) disposed between the porous insulating layer (5a, 5b) and the second conducting layer (3) and in electrical contact with the second conducting layer (3), wherein the third conducting layer (6a, 6b) includes a porous substrate (4, 8) made of an insulating material, and conducting particles (7, 9) forming a conducting network through the insulating material
Implementation Method 2
Sunlight is harvested by the dye, producing photo-excited electrons that are injected into the conduction band of the TiO2 particles and further collected by the conducting substrate
Implementation Method 3
I− ions in the redox electrolyte reduce the oxidized dye and transport the generated electron acceptor species to the counter electrode
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized solar cell including a light absorbing layer (1), a first conducting layer (2) for extracting photo-generated electrons from the light absorbing layer, a counter electrode including a second conducting layer (3), a porous insulating layer (5b) disposed between the first and second conducting layers, and a conducting medium for transferring charges between the counter electrode and the working electrode. The solar cell further comprises a third conducting layer (6b) disposed between the porous insulating layer (5b) and the second conducting layer (3) and in electrical contact with the second conducting layer, and the third conducting layer includes a porous substrate (8) made of an insulating material and conducting particles accommodated in the pores of the porous substrate and forming a conducting network (9) through the insulating material.