Imaging techniques for the study of photodegradation of dye sensitization cells

By producing scanning images of relevant cell parametres (e.g. photocurrent, photovoltage) of dye sensitization solar cells, while allowing solar light access only to well defined surface areas of the sensitization cell, photoinduced irreversible degradation can be recognized and studied as a clear-cut pattern of dependence on illumination time. They are useful for the study and quantification of photodegradation and thus for optimization of sensitization solar cell performance. Research possibilities based on this technique are explained and experimental results discussed.