Stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit of TiO2/treated metakaolinite-based dye-sensitized solar cell: effect of illumination intensity on Voc and Isc values
Winda Rahmalia, Imelda Hotmarisi Silalahi, Thamrin Usman, Jean‐François Fabre, Zéphirin Mouloungui, Georges Zissis
Abstract
Abstract In this research, treated metakaolinite (TMK) was introduced into the TiO 2 photoelectrode to fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic cells have four main natural components, i.e., a photosensitizer (carotenoid bixin), photoelectrode (TiO 2 /kaolinite), electrolyte (glycerine carbonate derivative), and counter-electrode (carbon). Their stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit were studied. The presence of 5% of TMK in anatase TiO 2 paste decreased the TiO 2 band gap from 3.21 to 3.16 eV. The result showed that the presence of 5% of TMK in TiO 2 paste was more favorable to obtain higher energy conversion efficiency. Under a light intensity of 200 W/m 2 , it produced an energy conversion yield of 0.086%. The combination of the electrolyte and the TMK demonstrated a synergistic effect to improve the electrical properties of the DSSC. The energy storage function worked well until the third day of analysis. The DSSC based on TiO 2 /TMK photoelectrode exhibited 16 times better stability than pure TiO 2 -based photoelectrode. The Faraday charge transfer processes showed that the TiO 2 /TMK photoelectrode is not in direct contact with the carbon counter-electrode.