| dc.description.abstract | Since energy production for day to day use is moving towards renewable energy sources
as these sources become more economically viable, while being less polluting to operate. Solar
energy has become one of the major sources of renewable energy. However, it currently relies
on ultra-pure silicon ingots to produce commercial silicon photovoltaics, which prevents the
cost of electricity being produced to compete with non-renewable energy production.
A viable low cost alternative for silicon based cells would be dye-sensitized solar cells
(DSSC), which are easier and cheaper to manufacture as they do not require expensive and
delicate raw materials to make, while they could be made semi-flexible which allows for a
greater variety of applications for these cells.
A DSSC consists three components, a photo-electrode, an electrolyte and a counterelectrode.
When exposed to incident light, the photoelectrode which contains complex photosensitizers,
which releases an electron which is transported to the external load, leaving
the photoelectrode in an oxidized state. The electrons are collected by the counter electrode
and used to reduce the electrolyte. This charged electrolyte then reduces the positively
charged photo-electrode, allowing the process to begin again. To improve the efficiency of
this process, we explore the use of Bismuth Sulfide and Titanium Oxide composite as photoelectrode
material by testing it in varying ratios and studying their impact on the efficiency
of DSSC. | |
