Study on the properties and charge generation in dye-sensitized n-TiO2|dye|p-CuI solid state photovoltaic solar cells

Transparent semiconducting copper iodide (CuI) films were prepared by XeCl Excimer laser and their characteristics are investigated. These films exhibited optical transmittance over 80% in the wavelength range from 400 to 900 nm and minimum resistivity of about 2 kΩ cm⁻¹. The optical absorption of the these films shows a remarkable blue shift compared to that of polycrystalline of CuI, which can be explained from the viewpoint formation of ultra fine of CuI grains. The titanium dioxide (TiO₂) films have been prepared by sol-gel method. The properties of pulsed laser deposited CuI and TiO₂ films in power output of n-TiO₂|dye|p-CuI cells is studied. An efficient charge generation is observed through the illumination of TiO₂ layer of the fabricated n-TiO₂|dye|p-CuI solid state photovoltaic solar cells. From the current-voltage characteristics, the fill factor and power conversion efficiency were about of 45 and 3%, respectively. The maximum photo-current of about 12.5 mA/cm² and photo-voltage of 475 mV under AM 1.5 conditions were obtained for the n-TiO₂|dye|p-CuI solid states photovoltaic solar cells with good reproducibility. Adsorbed dye molecules to the TiO₂ surface act as a relay, especially under illumination through TiO₂ layer in the wave range region of 300-400 nm.