Additives for solar cell semiconductors
AssigneesOneSun, LLC, Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, LLC
InventorJohn C. Warner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dye-sensitized solar cell (“DSSC”) includes an anode, a cathode, a semiconductor layer, a dye covalently attached to the semiconductor layer, and an electrolyte, wherein the semiconductor layer includes a metal oxide and an organic or inorganic insulating component to facilitate forward transfer of electrons to the anode. The semiconductor additive or insulating component may include, for example, alpha aluminum oxide, gamma aluminum oxide, fumed silica, silica, diatomaceous earth, aluminum titanate, hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate, iron titanate, and mixtures thereof.
Claims21
A semiconductor for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), said semiconductor comprising:
- a metal oxide;
- and
- at least one insulating component, said insulating component forming a pathway for an electron through the metal oxide to the anode.
A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) comprising:
- an anode, an electrolyte, and a semiconductor, said semiconductor comprising:
- an insulating compound selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, diatomaceous earth, gamma aluminum oxide, and a combination thereof;
- wherein the additive forms a pathway for excited electrons through said metal oxide layer to the anode.
A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) comprising:
- an anode, a cathode, a semiconductor, a dye covalently bonded to the semiconductor, and an electrolyte;
- wherein the semiconductor comprises:
- a metal oxide and an additive, said additive selected from the group consisting of alpha aluminum oxide, gamma aluminum oxide, fumed silica, silica, silicon oxide, diatomaceous earth, aluminum titanate, hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate, iron titanate, or a mixture thereof;
- and
- wherein the additive is in a formulation to cause the DSSC to operate with greater conversion efficiency than the DSSC without the additive in the semiconductor.
A method of converting solar energy, said method comprising:
- exposing a solar cell to light and thereby producing electrical energy, said solar cell comprising:
- a metal oxide;
- and at least one insulating component, said insulating component forming a pathway for an electron through the metal oxide to the anode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.