Wire-shaped, dye-sensitized solar cells with poly(vinyl alcohol) gel electrolyte and metal filaments

A kind of wire-shaped, dye-sensitized solar cell (WDSSC) composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gel electrolyte and filament-formed electrodes of titanium and platinum was prepared, and its photovoltaic performance was analyzed with the variations in the dimensions of the electrodes and cells. The dimensions of the wire-shaped cell were adjusted through the thickness of the TiO2 layer, the amount of PVA gel electrolyte, and length of the Pt filament. The dominant parameters determining the cell performance were mainly analyzed with the results from the various scanning electron microscopy images and fitted plots of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Although the conversion efficiencies of the fabricated WDSSCs were relatively lower than those of the conventional dye-sensitized solar cells, this development should provide important guiding directions for the design of similar WDSSCs with higher efficiencies. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.