Insights into corrosion in dye solar cells

The main issue in using low cost metals in dye solar cells is the corrosion caused by the liquid electrolyte. Contrary to typical applications of metals, the adverse effects of corrosion in dye solar cells are related to irreversible depletion of charge carriers from the electrolyte rather than consumption of the metal itself. It is calculated that the penetration rate due to corrosion should not exceed 10−4 mpy (a couple of nanometers per year) to ensure device lifetime longer than 1 year. This is 10 000 times slower rate than what is considered to be a general benchmark value for very low corrosion rate in the field of corrosion science and has a major effect on how corrosion should be investigated in the case of dye solar cells. Different methods, their applicability, and limitations to investigate corrosion in dye solar cells are evaluated here. The issue with most techniques is that they can detect metals that are clearly corroding, but they have significant limitations in proving a metal stable. Our investigation shows that the most reliable information on corrosion is obtained from complete dye solar cells that are exposed to working conditions. A combination of color analysis of the electrolyte to such measurement is proposed as a means to extrapolate future performance of the cells and estimate potential lifetimes of the dye solar cells in regards to corrosion.Peer reviewe

Low Cost Ferritic Stainless Steel in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells with Cobalt Complex Electrolyte

Cheap ferritic stainless steel is applied here as the counter electrode substrate in dye sensitized solar cells with cobalt complex electrolyte. A 5.0% efficiency was reached with these type of cells which is more than 2.5 times higher compared to previously reported devices with metal counter electrode and cobalt complex electrolyte. The electrochemical impedance spectra analysis showed that the best cells with the ferritic steel counter electrode had as low charge transfer resistance (3.6 Ωcm2) as the reference glass cells with the same electrolyte. While in previous studies many metals have corroded in the cobalt complex electrolyte, the stability analysis including scanning electron microscope imaging of the aged electrodes suggested that the ferritic stainless steel substrates did not corrode in the electrolyte. Hence ferritic stainless steel appears as a possible alternative counter electrode in dye solar cells with cobalt electrolyte in terms of cost, performance and stability.Peer reviewe