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US 6,900,382 B2Granted
Gel electrolytes for dye sensitized solar cells
AssigneeKonarka Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKethinni Chittibabu, Savvas Hadjikyriacou
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Abstract
Replacing liquid electrolytes with solid or quasi-solid electrolytes facilitates the production of photovoltaic cells using continuous manufacturing processes, such as roll-to-roll or web processes, thus creating inexpensive, lightweight photovoltaic cells using flexible plastic substrates.
Claims32
A photovoltaic cell comprising:
- first and second significantly light transmitting substrates;
- a photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle material disposed between the first and second significantly light transmitting substrates, wherein the photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle material comprises nanoparticles linked by a polymeric linking agent;
- and
- an electrolyte redox system also disposed between the first and second significantly light transmitting substrates, wherein the electrolyte redox system comprises a metal ion complexed to at least one organic compound.
1 more element
A method for use in forming a solar cell, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a photovoltaic cell portion comprising a photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle material, wherein the photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle material comprises nanoparticles linked by a polymeric linking agent;
- providing an electrolyte solution comprising a compound capable of complexing at a plurality of sites;
- adding a compound MX to the electrolyte solution in a sufficient amount such that M complexes with the compound capable of complexing at a plurality of sites to form a gel electrolyte, wherein M is a metal and X is an anion;
- and
- adding the gel electrolyte to the photovoltaic cell portion.
2 more elements
A photovoltaic cell comprising:
- first and second significantly light transmitting substrates;
- a photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle material disposed between the first and second significantly light transmitting substrates;
- and
- an electrolyte redox system also disposed between the first and second significantly light transmitting substrates, wherein the electrolyte redox system comprises a lithium ion complexed to at least one organic compound,
- wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of poly(4-vinyl pyridine), poly(2-vinyl pyridine), and co-polymers thereof.
2 more elements
A method for use in forming a solar cell, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a photovoltaic cell portion comprising a dye-sensitized layer;
- providing an electrolyte solution comprising a compound capable of complexing at a plurality of sites, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of poly(4-vinyl pyridine), poly(2-vinyl pyridine), and co-polymers thereof;
- adding a lithium compound to the electrolyte solution in a sufficient amount such that the lithium complexes with the compound capable of complexing at a plurality of sites to form a gel electrolyte;
- and
- adding the gel electrolyte to the photovoltaic cell portion.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.