Sensitizing Dye Solution Additives for Solar Cell Adsorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dye-sensitized solar cells face challenges with slow dye adsorption and desorption issues, which hinder commercialization and long-term stability due to time-consuming processes and instability.

Innovation Solution

A sensitizing dye solution is developed, incorporating specific additives like diphenylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate and pentafluoroanilinium triflate, which is applied to a porous titanium oxide substrate to enhance dye adsorption rates and reduce desorption, ensuring high efficiency and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional dye adsorption methods are used, then the dye can be adsorbed onto the working electrode, but the adsorption process is very time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedye adsorption speedVSAvoidadsorption processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dye solution by adding specific additives (diphenylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroanilinium triflate, or their mixtures with acids) to modify the adsorption characteristics. This enables the dye to be adsorbed rapidly onto the TiO2 working electrode within 1-5 minutes while maintaining stable adhesion and high solar cell efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If adsorption time is shortened to improve productivity, then processing time is reduced, but dye desorption occurs leading to poor long-term stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedye adsorption speedVSAvoidlong-term stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces specific additive compounds as intermediaries that facilitate the dye adsorption process. These additives (diphenylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroanilinium triflate, or their mixtures with acids) act as mediators that enable rapid dye uptake while forming stable complexes that prevent subsequent desorption, thus maintaining both high productivity and long-term stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If conventional dye solutions are used, then the solar cell can operate, but the energy conversion efficiency is limited and commercialization is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy conversion efficiencyVSAvoidcommercialization feasibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the dye solution composition by incorporating specific additives that enhance dye adsorption efficiency and stability. This parameter change enables rapid adsorption (1-5 minutes) with high coverage, significantly improving energy conversion efficiency and making the manufacturing process more feasible for commercialization by reducing processing time and improving device performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite dye solution system combining the sensitizing dye with specific additive compounds (diphenylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroanilinium triflate, or their mixtures with acids). This composite formulation enhances both the adsorption performance and stability of the dye on the working electrode, leading to improved energy conversion efficiency and commercialization potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The solution enables fast and stable dye adsorption, significantly reducing processing time, improving short-term and long-term solar cell efficiency, and maintaining performance under high-temperature conditions.

Implementation Method 1

A sensitizing dye capable of absorbing visible light is adsorbed onto the working electrode to create electron-hole pairs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The dye excites electrons, the excited electrons reach the counter electrode through the TiO2 particles of the working electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

Dyes creating electron-hole pairs need to be adsorbed. However, this process is very time consuming

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS10504660B2Sensitizing dye solution, working electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell prepared using the sensitizing dye solution and dye-sensitized solar cell including the working electrode

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 KOREA INST OF SCI & TECH

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for adsorbing a dye for a dye-sensitized solar cell. The method includes: coating a paste including metal oxide nanoparticles on the upper surface of a titanium oxide thin film and calcining the coated paste to form a porous film; adding an additive to a sensitizing dye solution to promote the adsorption of the dye; and dipping the porous film in the sensitizing dye solution to adsorb the sensitizing dye onto the surface of the porous film. The sensitizing dye solution is a dispersion of the sensitizing dye in an organic solvent. Also disclosed are a working electrode prepared using the sensitizing dye solution and a dye-sensitized solar cell including the working electrode. The addition of the additive shortens the time of dye adsorption. Despite the shortened adsorption time, the dye does not undergo desorption in the long term as well as in the short term, ensuring long-term stability of the solar cell.