In situ measurement of dye adsorption on TiO2 thin films for dye-sensitized solar cells

To evaluate the amount of dye molecules adsorbed on TiO2 thin films in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), it is essential to conduct the adsorption of dyes and desorption with NaOH. However, these steps are complex, time-consuming and prone to inaccuracy. A novel adsorption apparatus was made in our laboratory to understand the adsorption mechanism of dye molecules on TiO2 thin film and also obtains the precise adsorption amount without a desorption step. The commercial and natural dyes, N719 and gardenia yellow, respectively, were employed to measure the adsorption kinetic data, which were analyzed by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. It was found that the adsorption apparatus developed in this work for DSSCs was very effective and enabled the precise measurement of the amount of dye adsorbed on the TiO2 thin film directly without a desorption step.

► We developed the in situ adsorption apparatus for dye-sensitized solar cells. ► N719 and gardenia yellow were employed to measure the adsorption kinetic data. ► A device that measures amount of dye adsorbed directly without a desorption step.