Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) depends on the competition between transport and interfacial recombination of electrons. A key parameter in this context is the electron diffusion length, which is given by L n = ( D τ) 1/2, where D and τ are, respectively, the diffusion coefficient and lifetime of mobile electrons. A new approach to the reliable estimation of L n is described, which involves use of a titanium contact to measure the short-circuit value of the electron quasi-Fermi level on the side of the TiO 2 film furthest from the anode contact. This information is used to define conditions under which the effects of electron trapping/detrapping can be eliminated from the calculation of L n . The method is illustrated by measurements of a solid-state DSC based on the organic hole conductor 2,2‘,7,7‘-tetrakis( N, N -di- p -methoxyphenylamine)9,9‘-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD), which show that L n is significantly greater than had been thought previously.
Jennings et al. (Wed,) studied this question.