Novel geometric approach for photosensor construction based on dye-sensitization of TiO2 nanoparticles on stainless steel

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. 2019-08, Vol.295, p.51-58
• Main Authors: Rozman, Martin, Sygkridou, Dimitra, Fuchs Godec, Regina, Stathatos, Elias, Bren, Urban
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical reactions; DSSC; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Electrodes; Electrolytic cells; Metal foils; Metal substrate; Nanoparticles; Novel-geometry; Open circuit voltage; Organic chemistry; Perovskites; Photoelectrochemical devices; Photosensor; Photovoltaic cells; Production costs; Semiconductors; Solar energy; Stainless steel; Stainless steels; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2019.05.034

[Display omitted] •Improved open circuit potential (0.74 V compared to standard DSSC of 0.62 V).•Novel layout of device.•Use of only non-transparent electrodes made of stainless steel, eliminating the use of optically transparent electrodes.•Photosensors can be built as a tape-based device. We investigated a novel method of photosensor device fabrication which does not use optically transparent electrodes (OTEs) and is based on dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) technology. DSSCs are a typical representative of photoelectrochemical cells that use incident solar light as an energy that drives chemical reaction used as a source of electric energy. Due to their use of organic supplements instead of expensive semiconductors as well as much easier assembly, they were prime candidate to replace semiconductor cells. Their production cost is much lower compared to traditional semiconductors, such as silicon or even GaAs and as such they are ideal to be used as a platform for inexpensive photosensors. Vast majority of DSSC and perovskite solar cell (PSC) utilize at least one optically transparent electrode (OTE) in order to operate normally. Herein, the novelty of described devices is that they use an insulator layer between two metal electrodes, and have electrolyte placed around metal electrodes. Several devices have been assembled using SS316 type stainless steel foil and have used liquid I−/I3− based electrolyte in inverted configuration. Constructed devices were investigated using various electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Additionally, FE-SEM analysis has been performed on TiO2 coated FTO and stainless steel photoelectrodes. Results revealed that it is possible to construct a photo-sensing device that has better open circuit potential (0.74 V) output compared to already established technology that uses OTE, and that it is possible to make a tape-type device with adequate response. Using thin metal foil, it is also possible to construct rigid photosensors that could be potentially developed into new type of photo-sensing tape.