Deposition of hole-transport materials in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by doctor-blading

Ding, I-Kang; Melas-Kyriazi, John; Cevey-Ha, Ngoc-Le; Chittibabu, Kethinni G.; Zakeeruddin, Shaik M.; Grätzel, Michael; McGehee, Michael D.

Deposition of hole-transport materials in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by doctor-blading

Type

Article

Authors

Ding, I-Kang
Melas-Kyriazi, John
Cevey-Ha, Ngoc-Le
Chittibabu, Kethinni G.
Zakeeruddin, Shaik M.
Grätzel, Michael
McGehee, Michael D.

KAUST Grant Number

KUS-C1-015-21

Date

2010-07

Abstract

We report using doctor-blading to replace conventional spin coating for the deposition of the hole-transport material spiro-OMeTAD (2,20,7,70-tetrakis-(N, N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)- 9,90-spirobifluorene) in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. Doctor-blading is a roll-to-roll compatible, large-area coating technique, is capable of achieving the same spiro-OMeTAD pore filling fraction as spin coating, and uses much less material. The average power conversion efficiency of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells made from doctorblading is 3.0% for 2-lm thick films and 2.0% for 5-lm thick films, on par with devices made with spin coating. Directions to further improve the filling fraction are also suggested. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Ding I-K, Melas-Kyriazi J, Cevey-Ha N-L, Chittibabu KG, Zakeeruddin SM, et al. (2010) Deposition of hole-transport materials in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by doctor-blading. Organic Electronics 11: 1217–1222. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2010.04.019.

Acknowledgements

This publication was partially based on work supported the Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics (Award No. KUS-C1-015-21), made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). It was also partially supported by the Office of Naval Research. We thank Brian E. Hardin for valuable discussions. I.-K. Ding is supported by a Chevron Stanford Graduate Fellowship.