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Solid-state dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells have been fabricated with TiO2 as the electron conductor and CuSCN as the hole conductor. The cells show photocurrents of ≈8 mA/cm2, voltages of ∼600 mV, and energy efficiencies of ≈2% at 1 sun. The CuSCN was deposited into the pores of the nanoparticulate TiO2/dye film from dilute solution in propylsulfide. The degree of pore filling achieved is near 100% for TiO2 films <2-μm thick and falls to ≈65% for films near 6 μm. The final drying step after the CuSCN deposition is shown to be critical; drying in vacuum or argon is required for photocurrents above 2 mA/cm2. The photocurrent IVs of these cells are fit to a single diode equation and the results are discussed and compared to those for equivalent photoelectrochemical cells, and similar solid cells composed of ZnO/dye/CuSCN.
O’Regan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.