• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.123-127
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• 2007

Up sizing of dye-sensitized solar cell(DSC) is the important technology to bring about commercialization of DSC. Several studies to obtain a stable large area DSC have been investigated in overseas laboratories, but have been hardly done in our country. In this study, up sizing technology of dye sensitized solar cells(DSCs) was investigated. We investigated low dark current materials for the current collecting grid. From the result, a new DSC module with metal grid was designed, and fabricated. For a new interconnection, both working and counter electrodes are alternately coupled on 10[cm]$\times$7[cm] substrate. We have achieved 68% of fill factor and photoelectric conversion efficiency of around 2.6% as the best results of new designed DSC structure.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.910-914
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• 2007

Recently, a study on the energy conversion efficiency and up sizing' technology of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) which is focused in considering a new alternative solar cell has been executed. But consideration for the cell characteristics about an internal electronic flow on a large-scaled DSC has not been carried out yet. In this study, we have chosen a solar cell width as a variable of a large-scaled DSCs and confirmed electric characteristics of an individual cell. First, Pt counter electrode surface of DSC is deposited by RF sputtering methode and the electrochemical properties of Pt electrodes was investigated by cyclic -voltammetry. With the Pt electrode, we fabricated DSC samples of different width. As a result, the higher the internal resistance of DSC becomes, the wider the width gets. Internal resistance makes it difficult to collect photoelectron generated from dye. Ultimately up sizing DSC causes the increase of internal resistance and then has a bad effect on the cell characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.239.1-239.1
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• 2011

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSC) are promising devices for inexpensive, nontoxic, transparent, and large-scale solar energy conversion. Generally thick $TiO_2$ nanoporous films act as efficient photoanodes with their large surface area for absorbing light. However, electron transport through nanoparticle networks causes the slowdown and the loss of electron transport because of a number of interparticle boundaries inside the conduction path. We have studied DSCs with precisely dimension-controlled $TiO_2$ nanotubes array as photoanode. $TiO_2$ nanotubes array is prepared by template-directed fabrication method with atomic layer deposition. Well-ordered nanotubes array provides not only large surface area for light absorbing but also direct pathway for electrons with minimalized grain boundaries. Large enlongated anatase grains in the nanotubes could enhance the conductivity of electrons, but also suppress the recombination with holes through defect sites during diffusion into the electrode. To study the effect of grain boundaries, we fabricated two kinds of nanotubes which have different grain sizes by controlling deposition conditions. And we studied electron conduction through two kinds of nanotubes with different grain structures. The solar cell performance was studied as a function of thickness and grain structures. And overall solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiencies of up to 7% were obtained.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.100-106
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• 2009

A novel 8 V DC power source with an external series-parallel connection of 50 Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs) has been proposed. One DSC has the optimized length to width ratio of $5.2{\times}2.6\;cm$ and an active area $8\;cm^2$ ($4.62{\times}1.73\;cm$) which attained a conversion efficiency of 4.02%. From the electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis, it was found that the resistance elements related to the Pt electrode and electrolyte interface behave like that of diode and the series resistance corresponds to the sum of the other resistance elements. Surface morphology and sheet resistance of Pt counter electrode did not degrade the performance of the cell. This novel 8V-0.33A DC power source shows stable performance with an energy conversion efficiency of 4.24% under 1 sun illumination (AM 1.5, Pin of $100\;mW/cm^2$).

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1152-1153
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• 2008

본 연구에서는 Ketjen black을 이용한 DSCs (Dye-sensitized solar cells)용 다공질의 $TiO_2$ nano-powder 제작기술을 제안한다. $TiO_2$ powder는 sol-gel법에 의해 Ti-isopropoxide와 2-propanol을 사용하여 제작되었으며, Ketjen black의 함량(0g$\sim$2g)을 달리하여 제작된 $TiO_2$ nano-powder의 다공성과 입자의 크기, 결정성등의 특성을 고찰하였다. 또한 이러한 $TiO_2$ powder를 paste로 만들어 다른 열처리 온도($100^{\circ}C{\sim}600^{\circ}C$)에서 $TiO_2$ 박막을 이용한 DSCs를 제작한 후 그 효율을 측정하였다. 그 결과 Ketjen black 1g을 함유시켜 만들어진 $TiO_2$ powder의 다공성과 입자 크기가 가장 우수한 것으로 FE-SEM의 측정결과 나타났으며, 500$^{\circ}C$의 열처리 공정을 거쳐 제작된 셀의 효율이 가장 높은 효율인 5.46%를 나타내고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.124-127
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• 2008

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been proposed as a substitute for overcoming the limitation of Si solar cells because DSC has the various applications using advantages of DSC such as low cost, transparency and flexibility. Although some people point out low efficiency of DSC as the important problem at present, general views say that actually cumulative power is not insufficient as compared with Si solar cell. Therefore, we analyzed the characteristics of both cells according to the change of incident angle in this study. The insensibility about the incident angle has more developable time. Finally, DSC is able to fill a shortage of power caused from low efficiency of DSC for same time by developing during impossible time to develop in Si solar cell. As a result, DSC has 75% and 210% cumulative power of Si solar cell in summer and winter under the standard sunshine duration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.205-210
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• 2008

Titanium-doped indium oxide (ITiO) films were prepared on soda-lime glass substrate using a magnetic null discharge (MND) sputter source. The ITiO thin films containing 10wt.% Ti showed the minimum resistivity of $\rho=5.5{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}-cm$. The optical transmittance increases from 70% at 450 nm to 80% at 700 nm in visible spectrum. Photoelectron peaks for In 3d, Ti 2p, O 1s and C1s were detected for the ITiO film in the binding energy range of 0 to 1100 eV. The surface roughness of the sample showed a change from 10 nm to 50 nm. The ITiO film used for TCO layer of DSCs exhibited an energy conversion efficiency of about 3.8% at light intensity of 100 mW/$cm^2$.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.584-587
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• 2011

In this work, the $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$ thin films as blocking layers were coated directly onto the metal-mesh electrode surface to prevent unnecessary inflow of back-transfer electrons from the electrolyte ($I^-/I_3^-$) to the metal-mesh electrode. The DSCs were fabricated with working electrode of SUS mesh coated with blocking $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$ layers, dye-attached mesoporous $TiO_2$ film, gel electrolyte and counter electrode of Pt-deposited F:$SnO_2$. From the experimental result, it was ascertained that the efficiency of metal electrode coated with $TiO_2$ by Dip-coating was superior to that of metal electrode coated with $SnO_2$ by Dip-coating and screen printing with the results of experiments. The photo-current conversion efficiency of the cell obtained from optimum fabrication condition was 3% ($V_{oc}$=0.61V, $J_{sc}$=11.64 mA/$cm^2$, ff=0.64) under AM1.5, 100 mW/$cm^2$ illumination.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.354-355
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• 2006

We manufactured photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) by using three methods such as squeeze method, spray method, and combination method (squeeze method first, spray method second). We examined how the morphology of an electrode's surface, the pore between particles, and condensation have an effect on an open-circuit voltage, photocurrent, fill factor, and energy conversion efficiency. Open-circuit voltage of dye-sensitized solar cells manufactured by using three methods is about 0.66V when the photoelectrode of the three DSCs is about $5{\mu}m$ thick. Photocurrent and fill factor and conversion efficiency of DSC manufactured by using squeeze method is 18.5 and 34 and 7.8, respectively. Photocurrent and fill factor and conversion efficiency of DSC manufactured by using spray method is 3.62 and 62 and 2.8, respectively. Photocurrent and fill factor and conversion efficiency of DSC manufactured by using combination method is 10.7 and 46 and 5.9, respectively. In conclusion, we find that the combination method is better than the other two methods in such respects as energy conversion efficiency and fill factor.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.192-194
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• 2006

To elucidate possible challenges for outdoor practical use of dye-sensitized solar cells(DSC), compared with conventional Si solar cells. DSC modules still need the larger area than conventional Si solar modules to attain the same rated output because of lower photoelectron-chemical conversion efficiency. However, using batteries backup systems, the measured data shows that DSCs gathered over 12% more electricity than Si solar cells of the same rated output power in same outdoor condition. Moreover, battery charging time of DSC is about 1 hour faster than same rate of Si solar module. In this paper, 12 single DSC cells prepared for 4 serialized DSC cells was connected in 3 row parallel which have same output power rate of Si solar module. This DSC module was practiced generating characteristic experiment over outdoor daylight condition and applied with PV battery charger by using DC-DC converter. The main advantages of DSC module battery charger as compared with conventional Si solar module one are shorter charge time and lower cost.