2-Axis controlled spray pyrolysis deposition device for Dye-sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC)

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based photovoltaic systems due to their efficient light-to-electricity conversion. A critical component of DSSCs is titanium dioxide (TiO₂), responsible for converting light into electrical energy. Spray pyrolysis was one of the methods for fabricating TiO₂ thin films. However, there are several drawbacks, such as challenges in particle size control, maintaining homogeneity of the thin film, and scalability issues during the deposition process. Modifications to the manufacturing process are necessary to achieve optimal performance in DSSCs, particularly with the thickness of the cell. This work focuses on the 2-axis spray pyrolysis process, a cost-effective way to create thin and thick films. In particular, it focuses on TiO₂ thin films utilized as working electrodes in DSSC applications. The method was performed at different motor speeds, namely MS80, MS100, and MS120. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum showed that the dominance of the anatase phase appeared in an MS100. The UV-Vis results depict that the band gap value is 3.02 eV. The surface profiler analysis indicates that sample MS100 has an optimal thickness of 15.17 µm. The DSSC achieved 9.4% efficiency with sample MS100. This finding demonstrates that using
2-axis controlled spray pyrolysis deposition improves DSSC performance with an optimal motor speed.