Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells using Titanium Dioxide

12/29/2018

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Aim of the study......................................................................................................................................3
Research methodology................................................................................................................................3
Data collection.........................................................................................................................................3
Primary data sources...........................................................................................................................3
Secondary data sources.......................................................................................................................4
Experiment..............................................................................................................................................4
Data analysis............................................................................................................................................5
Results.........................................................................................................................................................5
Descriptive statistics................................................................................................................................5
Inferential statistics...............................................................................................................................10
Correlation.........................................................................................................................................10
Regression analysis............................................................................................................................12
Discussion..................................................................................................................................................14
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................16
References.................................................................................................................................................16

Introduction
Energy is an integral aspect of daily life, and the demand for it is expectantly high. Currently,
over 75% of energy consumption is attributed to non-renewable sources such as oil, coal and
natural gas (Carr, 2008). It is anticipated that the non-renewable sources won’t last for more than
200 years. In contrast to these sources of energy, renewable sources are thought to naturally
replenish and do not pollute the environment (Dogan, 2016). As blood is to body power is to
economy of any nation so without it economy will tremble and it will be difficult to run it.
Everywhere throughout the world energy is one of the main issues what's more, every nation is
searching for energy assets as its demand is expanding pointedly. Non-sustainable power sources
are either excessively costly or harming the earth and furthermore they are in the end going to
end in not so distant future. That is the reason the world is moving towards sustainable power
sources which are renewed in a moderately little timeframe.
Due to natural resource depletion and environmental demands, the world has moved to
renewable energy sources. Solar energy has emerged as one of the preferred options in solving
world energy crisis. In spite of the fact that hydroelectric is extremely modest sustainable power
source, however, it isn't accessible to all spots on the planet while on the other hand sunlight
based can possibly assume control over the entire power generation. From time immemorial,
solar energy has been a source of light and heat. In the present-day, solar energy is being used to
produce electricity for domestic and industrial use.
Solar energy harvesting can be done using several technologies (Salim, 2014). Sunlight based
cells are comprised of semiconducting materials, for example, silicon, which are doped with
various impurities. This produces unequal dissemination of free electrons (n-type) on one side of
intersection and abundance of openings (p-type) on opposite side of intersection. Sun based light

has photons which hit the sunlight based board and energize the inexactly bound electrons which
are intended to move just one way in sun based cells and along these lines electron-opening sets
are made in individual intersections and power is acquired in outer circuit (O.V., 2010). As a
result of the environmental demands, there has been a considerable decline in the use of silicon-
based solar cells. Whatever the size is, a typical solar cell produces 0.5-0.6-volt DC under no
load and open circuit condition. The current and voltage (power) ratting of a PV cell mainly
depends on its efficiency, size (surface area) and is proportional to the intensity of light striking
the surface of cell.
Dye-sensitized solar cells are among the options that have emerged to replace silicon-based solar
cells for harvesting solar energy (Pan, 2008). These cells have been largely used due to their
flexibility, low-cost, production ease, environmental friendliness and high efficiency in energy
conversion. The efficiency of the solar cells used in a photovoltaic system, in combination with
latitude and climate, determines the annual energy output of the system (Ito, 2012). Major
improvements such as the introduction of dyes, electrolytes have improved the efficiency of
these types of solar cells. At the current, they are the most efficient solar energy technologies
available (Li, 2011).
For purposes of this research we aim at investigating the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells
using titanium dioxide film. Dye sensitized solar cells convert solar energy into electricity
consisting of conductive cells with dye and electrolyte sandwiched in between. Dye is absorbed
on the titanium dioxide as it absorbs sunlight. The low cost and efficiency of dye-sensitized solar
cells has made these types of cells a center of attention and worldwide research.

Aim of the study
The aim of the study was to investigate and determine the effect of influence of titanium dioxide
on efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells.
Schematic diagram of the dye-sensitized solar cell
Research methodology
This section explains the steps that were taken towards collection and analysis of statistical data.
Data collection
Data was collected using both primary and secondary methods.
Primary data sources
For purposes of this research, primary data was collected form results of the experiment. The
data that was collected investigated the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells.

The parameters that were measured were the short circuit current, the voltage for open circuit,
the cell power input, the maximum obtained current, the maximum output and absorbance
spectrum of the flower extract dye.
These parameters were used for calculating the fill factor and efficiency of the dye sensitized
solar cell. The parameters were observed over 10 experimental periods.
Secondary data sources
Secondary data was collected from database sources depicting energy trends over the years.
Secondary data will be accessed through the website https://yearbook.enerdata.net/.
Experiment
An experiment was carried out to investigate the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells using
titanium dioxide film.
In order to assess the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells using titanium dioxide, we conduct
an experiment for making a comparison between two dye sensitized solar cells using zinc oxide
and titanium dioxide.
The study used flower extracts as natural organic dye for the dye sensitized solar cell. Ethanol
was used to obtain dye extracts from the flowers. Titanium dioxide was used as the photo
electrode. The electrode was synthesized using techniques of solution extraction and was
deposited on the FTO glass substrate forming a thin layer of titanium oxide film.
The TiO2 film underwent high temperature (about 460 °C) for about 40 minutes to enhance film
strength and compactness. We studied the titanium dioxide infused with electrolyte, under light
and in a dark room for its conductivity. The conductivity of light intensity, wave length and
voltage were observed.