Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract The energy‐generating charge transportation in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) occurs at the photoanode interface, and degradation at the interface can severely impact the cell performance. The study investigates the degradation of DSSCs and the main factors causing the decrease in cell...

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Main Authors: Sunita G. Adhikari, Jason R. Gascooke, Lars Kloo, Gunther G. Andersson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-07-01
Series:Advanced Materials Interfaces
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400746
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author Sunita G. Adhikari
Jason R. Gascooke
Lars Kloo
Gunther G. Andersson
author_facet Sunita G. Adhikari
Jason R. Gascooke
Lars Kloo
Gunther G. Andersson
author_sort Sunita G. Adhikari
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The energy‐generating charge transportation in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) occurs at the photoanode interface, and degradation at the interface can severely impact the cell performance. The study investigates the degradation of DSSCs and the main factors causing the decrease in cell performance over time. The DSSCs investigated here maintain their stability in the dark but upon light exposure, the cell degraded. The surface‐sensitive techniques X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (NICISS) are employed to investigate the change in the elemental and chemical composition at the electrode interface. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is applied to investigate the change in functional groups throughout the dye TiO2 interface. The XPS and NICISS results confirm the penetration of Ix− (x = 1 or 3) species into the dye layer as the main reason for cell degradation. FTIR and UV–vis DRS show the interaction of electrolytes with the dye molecule resulting in changes in the dye structure under light resulting in cell degradation. The main reason for the cell degradation observed is the penetration of Ix− into the dye layer which further instigates changes in the dye molecule affecting the light absorption ability of the dye and thus, decreasing the generation of photoelectrons resulting in poor performance of the cell over time.
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spelling doaj-art-1f39d1b6846c4bf781a9a82a0ea239322025-08-20T02:46:26ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Materials Interfaces2196-73502025-07-011214n/an/a10.1002/admi.202400746Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar CellsSunita G. Adhikari0Jason R. Gascooke1Lars Kloo2Gunther G. Andersson3Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Flinders University Adelaide South Australia 5042 AustraliaFlinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Flinders University Adelaide South Australia 5042 AustraliaApplied Physical Chemistry Department of Chemistry School of Chemical Science and Engineering KTH‐Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm SE‐10044 SwedenFlinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Flinders University Adelaide South Australia 5042 AustraliaAbstract The energy‐generating charge transportation in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) occurs at the photoanode interface, and degradation at the interface can severely impact the cell performance. The study investigates the degradation of DSSCs and the main factors causing the decrease in cell performance over time. The DSSCs investigated here maintain their stability in the dark but upon light exposure, the cell degraded. The surface‐sensitive techniques X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (NICISS) are employed to investigate the change in the elemental and chemical composition at the electrode interface. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is applied to investigate the change in functional groups throughout the dye TiO2 interface. The XPS and NICISS results confirm the penetration of Ix− (x = 1 or 3) species into the dye layer as the main reason for cell degradation. FTIR and UV–vis DRS show the interaction of electrolytes with the dye molecule resulting in changes in the dye structure under light resulting in cell degradation. The main reason for the cell degradation observed is the penetration of Ix− into the dye layer which further instigates changes in the dye molecule affecting the light absorption ability of the dye and thus, decreasing the generation of photoelectrons resulting in poor performance of the cell over time.https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400746degradationdye sensitized solar cellselectron spectroscopyIR‐spectroscopy
spellingShingle Sunita G. Adhikari
Jason R. Gascooke
Lars Kloo
Gunther G. Andersson
Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Advanced Materials Interfaces
degradation
dye sensitized solar cells
electron spectroscopy
IR‐spectroscopy
title Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
title_full Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
title_fullStr Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
title_short Unveiling the Aging Effect at the Interface of N719 Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
title_sort unveiling the aging effect at the interface of n719 dye sensitized solar cells
topic degradation
dye sensitized solar cells
electron spectroscopy
IR‐spectroscopy
url https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400746
work_keys_str_mv AT sunitagadhikari unveilingtheagingeffectattheinterfaceofn719dyesensitizedsolarcells
AT jasonrgascooke unveilingtheagingeffectattheinterfaceofn719dyesensitizedsolarcells
AT larskloo unveilingtheagingeffectattheinterfaceofn719dyesensitizedsolarcells
AT gunthergandersson unveilingtheagingeffectattheinterfaceofn719dyesensitizedsolarcells