New Materials for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

• Grant number: 13/07396-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Frederico de Oliveira Graeff
• Grantee: Mirko Congiu
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/57872-1 - National Institute for Materials Science in Nanotechnology, AP.TEM

Abstract

This project consists in the production and study of the properties of new materials for the optimization of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on nanostructured TiO2 films and dyes of the family of N3. The research will focus on the study and optimization of new counter-electrodes, based on CoS and CuS nanoparticles, which show great interest in the field of industrial research and development, their promising electrochemical characteristics and their low cost. Besides obtaining the nanoparticles of CuS and CoS by hydrothermal technique assisted by microwave, a great effort is made in order to obtain an optimal paste precursor for the deposition of films of CuS and CoS by the technique of screen-printing, compatible with modern industrial production lines. Besides the production of counter-electrode, and as a secondary objective, we will study alternative electrolytes based redox couple Co2 + / Co3 +, using ionic liquids. This line of research began at Chose (Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy), a center for advanced research on solar energy, located in Rome, Italy, where the candidate was trained in manufacturing solar cells DSSC type. Structural characterization of nanoparticle films will be made through measurements of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Symmetric cells will be mounted to the electrical characterization by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in order to study the efficiency of the new counter-electrodes and their compatibility with different electrolytes. The basic characterization of the cells themselves will be carried out by the photo-current measurements and measurements of current versus applied voltage in the dark and under simulated solar illumination.

Scientific publications

(6)

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

CONGIU, M.; ALBANO, L. G. S.; DECKER, F.; GRAEFF, C. F. O.. Single precursor route to efficient cobalt sulphide counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells. Electrochimica Acta, v. 151, p. 517-524, JAN 1 2015. (13/07396-7, 13/25028-5, 13/07296-2, 08/57872-1)

CONGIU, MIRKO; LANUTI, ALESSANDRO; DI CARLO, ALDO; GRAEFF, CARLOS F. O.. A novel and large area suitable water-based ink for the deposition of cobalt sulfide films for solar energy conversion with iodine-free electrolytes. Solar Energy, v. 122, p. 87-96, DEC 2015. (13/07396-7, 13/25028-5, 08/57872-1)

CONGIU, M.; DECKER, F.; DINI, D.; GRAEFF, C. F. O.. An open-source equipment for thin film fabrication by electrodeposition, dip coating, and SILAR. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY, v. 87, n. 9-12, p. 2901-2909, DEC 2016. (13/07396-7)

CERRA, SARA; PICA, PARIDE; CONGIU, MIRKO; BORATTO, M. H.; GRAEFF, C. F. O.; FRATODDI, ILARIA. Gold nanoparticles functionalized with 4,4'-dithiobiphenyl blended with CuS in PMMA for switching memory devices. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS, v. 31, n. 15, JUN 2020. (13/07396-7, 17/20809-0)

CONGIU, M.; NUNES-NETO, O.; DE MARCO, M. L.; DINI, D.; GRAEFF, C. F. O.. Cu2-xS films as counter-electrodes for dye solar cells with ferrocene-based liquid electrolytes. Thin Solid Films, v. 612, p. 22-28, AUG 1 2016. (13/07396-7, 11/21830-6)

CONGIU, MIRKO; BONOMO, MATTEO; DE MARCO, MARIA LETIZIA; DOWLING, DENIS P.; DI CARLO, ALDO; DINI, DANILO; GRAEFF, CARLOS F. O.. Cobalt Sulfide as Counter Electrode in p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. CHEMISTRYSELECT, v. 1, n. 11, p. 2808-2815, JUL 16 2016. (13/07396-7, 13/25028-5, 08/57872-1)