Dye-sensitized solar cells including carbon nanotube yarns

A flexible, wire-shaped dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:

• a working electrode comprising seven twisted carbon nanotube yarns;
• a hybrid sensitizer, comprising:
• a porous metal oxide layer coated on the seven twisted carbon nanotube yarns, and
• dye particles and quantum dots located in or on the porous metal oxide layer, wherein the dye particles comprise N719 dye, and the quantum dots comprise CdS and CdSe;
• a conducting electrode comprising one carbon nanotube yarn disposed about the hybrid sensitizer or three twisted carbon nanotube yarns disposed about the hybrid sensitizer;
• and
• a solid state electrolyte disposed about the hybrid sensitizer.

A method of manufacturing a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:

• twisting seven carbon nanotube yarns to form a working electrode;
• coating a layer of nanoporous titanium oxide on the seven twisted carbon nanotube yarns;
• coating a layer of microporous titanium oxide onto the nanoporous titanium oxide layer;
• positioning dye particles and quantum dots in the pores of the microporous titanium oxide layer,
• wherein the quantum dots comprise CdS and CdSe and the dye particles comprise N719 dye;
• wherein the layer of nanoporous titanium oxide, the layer of microporous titanium oxide, the dye particles, and the quantum dots collectively form a hybrid sensitizer;
• providing a conducting electrode comprising one carbon nanotube yarn disposed about the hybrid sensitizer or three twisted carbon nanotube yarns disposed about the hybrid sensitizer;
• and
• providing a solid state electrolyte about the hybrid sensitizer.