Solid dye-sensitized solar cells prepared through a counter strategy for filling of solid hole transporter

Efficient solid-state dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) require a tight filling of solid p-type semiconductors into the dye-sensitized nanoporous n-type semiconductor in order to form a good interfacial electrical contact. We report here a facile and unique counter-methodology that achieves compact contact between the sensitized TiO ₂ network and the solid p-type semiconductor for the assembling of solid DSSCs. The separated n-type TiO ₂ nanoparticles (NPs) are firstly dye sensitized before formation of the film, which is opposite to the conventional procedure of sintering the TiO ₂ NPs into a nanoparticulate film prior to dye sensitization. Next, a solution of p-type CuSCN is mixed with the sensitized TiO ₂ NPs, followed by the evaporation of the solvent to obtain the solid nanocomposition of sensitized TiO ₂ NPs wrapped with p-type CuSCN. The solid DSSCs are assembled by a series of film compressing and film transferring processes. The structures of the cells are characterized and the photovoltaic behaviors of the cells are also investigated and compared with cells prepared by conventional methods. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.