Title :
Nanocrystalline electrochemical solar cells
Author :
McEvoy, A.J. ; Grätzel, M. ; Wittkopf, H. ; Jestel, D. ; Benemann, J.
Author_Institution :
Inst. de Chimie Phys., Ecole Polytech. Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Abstract :
Standard solar cells exploit the physics of semiconductors in which the energy of absorbed photons excites charge-carrier pairs which are subsequently separated by the influence of a solid state junction to provide a photovoltage. In the nanocrystalline electrochemical cell, the optical absorber is a dye monolayer which after photo-excitation injects electrons into a semiconductor substrate, with charge neutrality being restored by a chemical redox reaction. The circuit is completed through an electrolyte and a metallic counterelectrode. Present performance, industrial engagement in research and development and commercial prospects are presented
Keywords :
crystal morphology; electrochemical electrodes; electrochemistry; electrolytes; photoelectrochemical cells; photoelectrochemistry; photons; solar cells; substrates; absorbed photon energy; charge-carrier pairs excitation; chemical redox reaction; dye monolayer; electrolyte; metallic counterelectrode; nanocrystalline electrochemical solar cells; photo-excitation injects electrons; photovoltage; solid state junction; standard solar cells; substrate morphology; surface adsorption; Optical scattering; Optical sensors; Photonic band gap; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Rough surfaces; Solar power generation; Solid state circuits; Substrates; Surface roughness;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 1994., Conference Record of the Twenty Fourth. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1994, 1994 IEEE First World Conference on
Conference_Location :
Waikoloa, HI
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-1460-3
DOI :
10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520647
