0000000000982761
AUTHOR
Niko Humalamäki
Intriguing Photochemistry of the Additives in the Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Over the years numerous mixes of chemical compounds have been tried in the electrolytes of dye-sensitized solar cells in efforts to improve their efficiency. How these chemicals interact with each other and the photoelectrode has received surprisingly little attention. Here we report results from a systematic study of two I–/I3– electrolytes and their additives using infrared and Raman spectroscopy together with quantum chemical calculations. In the LiI electrolyte competing interactions between lithium cation and the solvent MPN and the additives TBP, NMBI, and GuSCN were identified. These interactions could inhibit the interaction of lithium ions with the TiO2 surface. It was found that u…
Sensitizer exchange dynamics in air and solvent filled semiconductor nanocavities
Multiple dye binding sites and their exchange in equilibrium in air and solvent filled sensitized titanium oxide nanocavities were identified by 2DIR spectroscopy. Binding geometry and flexibility may influence electron injection efficiency of solar cells.