Improvement on the long-term stability of flexible plastic dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

We investigate the long-term stability of performance for plastic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on organic iodides (TBAI or PMII) in methoxypropionitrile-based electrolytes. Plastic DSSCs containing TBAI maintain 96.9% of baseline efficiency under more than 1000 h prolonged one sun light irradiation and thermal stress (60 degrees C) aging. The factors of device long-term stability, such as the effects of organic iodides, cell-sealing conditions, and the sheet resistance of indium tin oxide coated polyethylene naphthalate substrate (ITO/PEN) are discussed via using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrical resistance measurement. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.