Degradation mechanisms of dye-sensitized solar cells: Light, bias and temperature effects

We analyzed the degradation of dye-sensitized solar cells, subjected to thermal, electrical, and illumination stress, using DC characterization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and UV/VIS spectroscopy. We separated and identified the effects of each stress: temperature mostly affects the dye, UV light mostly degrades the electrolyte and leads to a sudden collapse of the dye, the current flow across the cell is responsible of the corrosion of platinum counter-electrode.