ENCYCLOPÉDIE DE LA RECHERCHE SUR L’ALUMINIUM AU QUÉBEC 2013 | Page 57

NOUVEAUX PRODUITS ET MATÉRIAUX À BASE D'ALUMINIUM
NEW ALUMINIUM BASED PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS

55

INGÉNIERIE DE SURFACE D’ÉLECTRODES D’ALUMINIUM POUR
DES CELLULES SOLAIRES À PIGMENTS PHOTOSENSIBLES
SURFACE-ENGINEERING OF ALUMINUM ELECTRODES
électrodes
à pigments photosensibles FOR DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS
Neslihan Alpay1, George P. Demopoulos1, Mathieu Brochu1
1

Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC.

Introduction

DSSC Working Principe

To face the challenge of increasing demand for energy sources, and the threat of climate changes,
there is an urgent need to promote the utilization of RENEWABLE ENERGY resources. SOLAR
ENERGY is the most abundant energy source which offers a clean, climate-friendly and inexhaustible
energy resource to mankind. DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS (DSSCs) (η≈15%) are considered in
the third generation solar cells, which were developed as alternatives to silicon-based solar cells.

MAIN COMPONENTS:
TiO2 semiconductor
Dye
Electrodes: Photo-electrode & Counter-electrode
Electrolyte

ADVANTAGES: Cheap; easy to manufacture; environmentally friendly; work in low-level indoor light;
can be made flexible, transparent and colored.
For the first time to our knowledge, the conductive glass electrode, which is the most
expensive part of a DSSC, was replaced with cost-effective anodized aluminum alloys.

Photo-electrode

Conductive glass (FTO)
TiO2 + Dye

APPLICATIONS:

3I-����I3-��
����

Electrolyte

1

3

2

4

Counter-electrode

3I- → I3- +2e-

Conductive glass (FTO)

5

Results

Objective

Various compositions of Al-Si cast alloys were studied.

Standard conductive glass counter-electrode (CE) was replaced
with different compositions of Al-Si cast alloys.

Al-1Si

Al-3.5Si

Al-2Si

Al-5Si

Al-10Si

Al-15Si

Conduction channels: Silicon particles

After anodization:
Porous aluminum
oxide layer with
silicon particles.

Al-Si cast alloy

After anodization
Surface

ar Cells/Metalized Anodized Colored
Energy Conversion Devices!

Cross-Section

CE: Anodized

Al2O3

Experimental procedure
e, Neslihan Alpay, Mathieu Brochu and George Demopoulos
PHOTO-ELECTRODE
COUNTER-ELECTRODE
s Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Sensitized Doctor-Blading Cells/Metalized Anodized Colored
Solar
olar Cells/Metalized Anodized Colored
1. Casting Al-Si Alloy
1. TiO
Efficiency vs. Si percentage
Aluminum Energy Conversion Devices!
m Energy Conversion Devices!

O N A N D C H A R A C T E2 I Z AT I O N
R

Si

Al2O3
Si

Al

R E S U LT S – E F F E C T O F C O L O R O N E F F I C I E N C Y
How does color affect cell’s efficiency?

Glass

Glass
+ ITO

Glass +
Y + ITO

Glass +
G1 +
ITO

Glass +
G2 +
ITO

Glass +
Ti

Glass +
Y + Ti

Glass +
G1 + Ti

Glass +
G2 + Ti

4.20

4.73

4.66

4.59

4.46

4.40

4.44

4.33

4.27

atun,Neslihan TiCl Treatment Neslihan Alpay, Mathieu Demopoulos George Demopoulos
ote, Marie-Pier Cote,
2. Alpay, Mathieu Brochu and George Brochu and
2. Anodization
Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
als Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Sealing followed
by sputtering

Doctor Blade printing of the
TiO2 and sensitized on the
photo-anode

4

Efficiency
(" %)

• All the measurements were made with the same glass cell.
• The measurements were made by back illumination.

Best Conductive
EFFECT OF
DSSC FABRICATION AND
R E S U LTS – EFFECT O F R E S U LTO N– EFFICIENCY C O L O R O N E F F I C I E N C Y
CO LO R S
TION AND CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION
Glass-CE Cell

ctrolyte
ng

Cell Assembly

Efficiency (! %) of the Anodized Colored Aluminum DSSCs

Characterization

No color +
3. Platinization

T O F C O L O R O N R E F3. E C T A N C E
L Dyeing

ITO

cid

I

16
14

9.24

II

Effect of dying on Sulfuric Acid

8.24

R%

10
Surface finishing,
Sealing followed
8
Pre-treatment andby sputtering
6
Anodization

ing

id-anodize

4
0

750

350

450

550
650
Wavelength (nm)

750

er we apply a conductive layer and color?

O

Before and after sputtering Ti

!0

4.35

-

How does color affect cell’s efficiency? How does color affect cell’s efficiency?

Glass + Glass +
Glass + Glass +
Glass + Glass + Glass + Glass +
Glass 6.47
+
Glass +Glass + Glass + Glass +
Glass Glass +
G2 +
G1 +
G1 +
G2 + Glass
Ti
Y + Ti G1 + Ti G2 + Ti
Ti + ITO Ti Y + ITO Ti G2 + Ti
Y+
Y + ITO
G1 +
ITO
ITO
ITO
ITO
!0
!0
4.38
3.91
Doctor Blade printing of the

CELL ASSEMBLY AND TESTING
Green 2

Yellow + Ti

Glass

8.10
Sealing followed
Doctor Blade printing ofIII
the
Coloring
by
and
TiO2Yellow sensitized on the sputtering
no color
photo-anode
Green 1

2

No color +
Ti

!0

12

d-anodize

Yellow +
ITO

!0

Glass

Does dying with different colors change the
reflection of the anodized Al substrate?

ges using

!0
Glass
+ ITO

TiO2 and sensitized on the

photo-anode
Highest
SUMMARY
Efficiency
Efficiency
4.20 4.73
4.66
4.59 (" %)
Average 4.46
 The Al/ITO exhibited (" %)
a higher reflectance when compared to Al/Ti due to ITO

higher index of transmittance.

Reference

Pure Al

4.20 4.73
4.40
4.44 4.66
4.33 4.59
4.27
Al-1Si

Al-2Si

Al-3.5Si

Al-5Si

 The efficiency measurement of Ti + Yellow DSSCs resulted in the cell short
circuiting, which may have been caused by a poor seal in the cell.

CTRESULTS – ON REFLECTANCE ON REFLECTANCE color +
OF COLOR EFFECT OF COLOR
No
REFERENCES
Glass
%R

ore)

O (after)

8
6

e)

4

Conclusions
no color (before)
no color + Ti (after)
Yellow (before)

ITO

(after)
Yellow + Ti (after)
hanges using 2
Does Available: with different
The reflectionDoesAnodized Al changes using[2] G24 was developed for metallic Al-Si alloy-based
of Novel fabrication procedure Innovations. (2011),dying http://www.g24i.com/ colors change the
the dying with different colors change the
[3] Nanosolar. (2007). Available: http://inhabitat.com/nanosolar-thin-flexible-solar-cell-coating/
0
id?
reflection of the anodized Al substrate? .(2012). Available: http://deepresource.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/solar-power-to-dye-for/
reflection of the anodized Al substrate?
different 550
types of acid?750
[4] Deep Resource
750
350
450
650

12

R%

10
8

ic acid-anodize

6

uric acid-anodize

14

14

References
12

1. http://www.fordcartalk.com/2009/
10
10
2. http://haodipvcwindow.en.made