Third generation of photoconversion systems – DSSCs –

Principal investigator: Alessandra Sanson

Involved personnel: Alex Sangiorgi, Nicola Sangiorgi

Starting date: 01/07/2013
Duration: 24 months
Total funding: 200.580 €
Call: POR-FESR 2007-2013, Regione Emilia Romagna
Coordinator: CNR-ISTEC
Consortium: 3 partners from the Emilia-Romagna region (CNR-ISTEC, TRE Tozzi Renewable Energy S.p.A., Impronte, Società Cooperativa per la sobrietà ambientale)

The project concerns the development and engineering of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The main objective is the development of low cost and flexible deposition technologies that are essential for the production and upscaling of DSSC.

In summary, the deposition techniques of greatest interest for the industrial production of DSSCs are studied with particular attention to screen printing and additive manufacturing techniques. The former is a well-known technique that can in fact attract industrial companies that are not generally into the photovoltaic field, but which are experts in this deposition technology (e.g. ceramic industries) while the latter assure higher flexibility to the process. The principal organic compounds and production stages necessary for the production of ink, suspensions and pastes based on ceramic oxides for DSSC applications are studied, as well as the process parameters necessary for the production of suitable thick films and thus photoanodes.

The overall objective of the activity is therefore the development of the appropriate skills needed to produce dye-sensitized solar cells photoanodes on both rigid and flexible substrates and their integration into complete cells.

DSSC prototypes representing respectively the Province of Ravenna, Laboratory and the Municipality of Faenza logos
DSSC prototypes representing respectively the Province of Ravenna, Laboratory and the Municipality of Faenza logos

Publications

  • R. Bendoni*, A.L. Barthélèmy, N. Sangiorgi, A. Sangiorgi, A. Sanson, “Dye-sensitized solar cells based on N719 and cobalt gel electrolyte obtained through a room temperature process” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 330, (2016) 8–14.
  • R. Bendoni*, N. Sangiorgi, A. Sangiorgi, A. Sanson, “Role of water in TiO2 screen-printing inks for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells” Solar Energy 122, (2015) 497-507.
  • R. Bendoni*, E. Mercadelli, N. Sangiorgi, A. Strini, A. Sangiorgi, A. Sanson, “Alternative route for the preparation of Zr – doped TiO2 layers for energy and environmental applications” Ceramics International 41, (2015) 9899-9909.
  • A. Sangiorgi*, R. Bendoni, N. Sangiorgi, A. Sanson, B. Ballarin, “Optimized TiO2 blocking layer for dye-sensitized solar cells” Ceramics International 40, (2014) 10727-10735.