TiO2 sol-gel blocking layers for dye-sensitized solar cells

The application of a thin, compact layer of TiO2 on the conductive glass substrate in a dye-sensitized solar cell can prevent short-circuits in the solar cell and, therefore, prevent the back transfer of electrons by blocking direct contact between the electrolyte and the conductive substrate. In this work, it has been found that compact films of TiO2, produced by a sol-gel method and applied by dip-coating, increased the short-circuit current and efficiency of the solar cells. As the number of TiO2 coatings increased, the solar cell efficiency increased, due to the film becoming thicker and more smooth and uniform.