Outdoor testing and degradation of dye-sensitized solar cells in Abu Dhabi

•Field testing of DSSCs under the unique climate conditions of Abu Dhabi.•The long-term stability of DSSCs was monitored and degradation mechanisms were proposed.•The temperature and irradiance dependence of DSSCs and polycrystalline Si solar cells were compared.•Ionic liquid based DSSCs were more stable compared to devices using electrolyte solvents.

This paper reports on the long-term testing of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) compared with a polycrystalline Si solar cell under the outdoor conditions of Abu Dhabi, UAE. A comparison of the temperature and irradiance dependence of both types of solar cells shows that DSSCs has relatively better performance than the polycrystalline Si solar cell under low irradiance levels and high temperatures. The monthly energy yields reveal that DSSCs produce about 20% higher energy during the spring months and about 30% higher energy during the summer months. The long-term stability of different DSSCs has been monitored under real outdoor conditions for over six months and degradation mechanisms have been proposed. Ionic liquid based DSSCs were significantly more stable when compared to devices based on other electrolyte solvents. However, the efficiency of all the experimental DSSCs degraded over time due to several factors outlined in the paper. This paper further outlines the advantages of DSSCs for their potential use in buildings in warm regions such as the Middle East and North Africa.