HOPV12 - Blogs

4 th Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaic Conference -Uppsala 2012 145
C36 - Series Interconnections for Dye Solar Cell Modules: Stability and Materials
Fabrizio Giordano a , Andrea Guidobaldi a , Eleonora Petrolati b , Thomas M. Brown a , Andrea
Reale a , Aldo Di Carlo a
a, CHOSE- Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Electronic Engineering Department, Via
Giacomo Peroni 400, Rome, 131, IT
b, DYEPOWER, Viale Castro Pretorio, 122 - 00185 - Rome, IT
Dye Solar Cells (DSCs) represent now the most mature technology of the new generation
Photovoltaics. Series connection can be realized in “W” or “Z” configurations. Such schemes
were optimized in our previous works(1,2) by accounting for losses due to up-scaling processes
and large area design such as the resistance of series interconnections, transparent
conducting oxides TCO, the ratio between active and total areas of the module.
Here we will consider DSC modules fabricated using the Z and W interconnection
schemes(Fig 1 a and b) and their behaviour in temperature and during ageing tests.W
moduels that were geometrically balanced at standard illumination conditions (AM1.5G) and
at fixed temperature (22 deg)show remarkable instability in temperature (Fig 1 c). An
explanation to this phenomenon as well as possible solutions will be given here.
Figure 1 Z connection scheme (a) and W connection scheme (b); “W” module I-V characteristics at different
Temperatures(c);I-V characteristics of a dye solar cell illuminated from the Front (squares) and back (circles) at 30
•C (black) and 60•C (red)(d).The same loss in current density was observed for both front and back
illuminated cells when temperature was increased from 30 ·C to 60 ·C(Fig 1 d). Indeed no
differences were observed (over the same range of temperatures) for cells with different cell
width.An efficient way to seal modules properly by thermoplastic is presented.Moreover the
use of different materials such as electrolytes and organic dyes was evaluated over these two
schemes, in comparison with the standard ones ( I - /I - 3, N719).
In conclusion we present a quantitative comparison of the performance provided by these
two different types of optimized modules (Z and W), to evince technological necessities,
advantages and disadvantages of both configurations.
© SEFIN 2012