Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC)

Dye Sensitized solar cells, also known as Grätzel cells, are devices used to directly convert solar light into electricity. In 1991 O'Regan and Grätzel realized the first prototype of solar cell with good efficiency using low-cost materials if compared to silicon solar cell.

DSSC (Dye Sensitized Solar Cell) are made of multilayer materials with selected band gap that allow photon adsorption and electron injection in the conduction band of the anodic material to produce electric energy. Heart of the system is a semiconductor layer (generally TiO2) that can either receive the high energy electrons coming from the dye and support the dye itself. For both functions the porous structure is highly important and must be carefully optimized.

CNR-ISTEC is mainly involved in the design and optimization of the semiconductor ceramic layers for both rigid and flexible DSSC studying either the material and the deposition techniques. Moreover, the competences on glass ceramic systems are used to develop suitable sealing systems.

The solar cell prototype is ideated in view of its industrial production; for this reason the selection of materials and shaping processes are directed toward the minimization of the time and production costs.