Investigating and studying the effects of coating converter colors with the approach of converting solar energy into electric current in solar cells on porous silica

Mafi, Mohammad Khodayari; Shafiei, Hadi

doi:10.61186/CNJ.1.4.208

Investigating and studying the effects of coating converter colors with the approach of converting solar energy into electric current in solar cells on porous silica

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Khodayari Mafi

Hadi Shafiei

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran

10.61186/CNJ.1.4.208

Abstract

The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are the third generation of solar technology that use in recent years has increased dramatically. The purpose of this research is to evaluate components of the energy efficiency of light-sensitized solar cells based on porous silica. Unique properties of porous silica substrate, such as high surface area, mechanical and thermal stability, volume and diameter of the high risk make to the solar colors (Dye Solar) Cells of this type of structure are used effectively in the context of crystalline silica dispersed porous and due to this type of substrate volume with a specific morphology, which will increase efficiency. The solar colors (Dye solar) based on a porous substrate are detected by XRD and XRF techniques and the tin oxide coating on a porous silica substrate has been studied by techniques of SEM and efficiency of solar energy components factors such as type, color, and, temperature, surface area, the coating was examined and appropriate amounts in each case was optimized.

Keywords

Photo voltaic cells

Porous substrates

Color conversion coating

DSSC

Fig. 2. XRD patterns of both prepared samples oxide layers on porous silica

77 nm

65 nm

TiO₂:SiO₂ layer

Fig. 3. TEM images of both prepared samples oxide layers on porous silica

3.2. XRF analysis

X-ray analysis confirmed the presence of SnO₂ and TiO₂ nanoparticles in the applied silica pores and the percentage of elements in the prepared layers is shown in the Table 3.

Table 3. Structural analysis of porous silica substrate with titanium and tin oxide layer

Rb	Y	SnO₂	W	La	Ce	V	Cr	TiO₂
(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	Unit
14	20	177	14	8	16	16	3	38	Composition

3.3. Solar cell and photocatalytic activity investigation

A solar cell based on tin and titanium oxide layers using light-sensitive synthetic dye such as 2,2-dicarboxylic 4,4-bipyridene has been prepared in order to produce clean solar energy. The results Table 4, showed that by increasing the porosity of the SiO₂ based on the substrate and also making this substrate as a conductive matrix, the amount of obtained current increases significantly, which indicates the increase in surface area in porous surfaces. This phenomenon leads to an increase in energy production during the photovatalytic procedure. The tin oxide/silica substrate with an average particle size of 45 nm shows the most efficiency compared to titanium/porous silica.

It must be noted that the use of small amounts of Dye solar, which included more surface area due to the porosity of the substrate, resulting the more production of charge carries and reduce of charge carriers recombination as main limitation of photocatalytic systems [13-15]. On the other hand, the amount of current produced in this cell in relation to the dimensions indicates the high ability of this type of cells, compared to other solar cells that are made on a non-porous conductor bed.

Table 4. Cell values in radiant power 6.2 mW/cm²

				Type of substrate
11	24	92	470	Pure SnO₂
21	37	92	995	SnO₂:SiO₂
9	39	63	290	Pure TiO₂
11	13	56	585	TiO₂:SiO₂

4. Conclusion

The fabrication of solar cells from tin oxide and titanium layers using light-sensitive synthetic dyes such as 4,4-dimethyl-2,2-bipyridine provides a safe and environmental-free way to provide clean solar energy. In this research, it was observed that by increasing the porosity of the SiO₂ base substrate and also making this substrate conductive, the amount of current produced increases to a significant amount, which indicates the increase in surface area to volume in porous surfaces, which leads to an increase in Energy will be produced.What attracted more attention was the use of small amounts of Dye solar, which included more surface area due to the porosity of the substrate, which greatly reduced costs. Also, the amount of current produced in this cell compared to the dimensions indicates the high ability of this type of cells, compared to other solar cells that are made on non-porous conductive substrate.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Author information

*Corresponding Author: Mohammad Khodayari Mafi

mohammadkhodayari338@gmail.com

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