Temperature dependence and the oscillatory behavior of the opto-electronic properties of a dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cell

A dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cell was developed and characterized. The I–V (current–voltage) characteristics were studied at different temperatures from −40°C to 80°C. The opto-electronic properties of the cell depend on factors like ambient temperature and the time constants of the redox processes at the cell interfaces. The temperature dependence of Voc and Isc were clearly demonstrated. Isc increased with increasing temperature above room temperature, where as Voc increased with decreasing temperature below room temperature. The opto-electronic properties showed oscillatory behavior especially at low temperatures, which may be attributed to the different velocities of the redox processes occurring at the TiO2/dye, dye/electrolyte and the electrolyte/counter electrode interfaces.