Surface passivation: The effects of CDCA co-adsorbent and dye bath solvent on the durability of dye-sensitized solar cells

The long-term stability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on an amphiphilic ruthenium sensitizer, CYC-B6L was studied. When the surface of the TiO2 electrode was passivated with a co-adsorbent, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), the resulting DSC reveals very good long-term stability with over 87% of initial performance under a 1000 h prolonged light-irradiation and thermal stress (60 °C) aging, which is as good as the state-of-the art robust device. The solvent used in dye bath also affects the long-term stability of the DSC devices. The effect of co-adsorbent and the impact of the dye bath solvents on the device durability were investigated using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

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► TiO2 electrode was passivated with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) reveals good long-term stability.
► The solvent used in dye bath affects the long-term stability of the DSC.
► The dye bath affects the number of dye molecules assembled on the TiO2 film and molecular conformation.