Dye-sensitized solar cells: Scale up and current–voltage characterization

Large size, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have been prepared on silver grid embedded, transparent conductive oxide (TCO) glass substrate by screen printing method. Under one sun condition (AM 1.5, Pin 100 mW cm−2), achieved active area energy conversion efficiency of 5 cm×5 cm device approaches that of small-size DSSC prepared at similar condition. To improve the accuracy of efficiency measurement, current–voltage characterizations were carried out with shadow mask and different light reflective backgrounds. It was found that transparent and stripe-like non-active area, arising due to current collector and overcoat layer, of large size DSSC does not strongly influence the energy conversion efficiency.