• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.400.2-400.2
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• 2016

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been widely investigated as a next generation solar cell because of their simple structure and low manufacturing cost. To realize a commercially competitive technology of DSSCs, it is imperative to employ a technique to prepare nanocrystlline thin film on the flexible organic substrate, aiming at increasing the flexibility and reducing the weight as well as the overall device thickness of DSSCs. The key operation of glass-to-plastic substrates conversion is to prepare mesoporous TiO2 thin film at low temperature with a high surface area for dye adsorption and a high degree of crystallinity for fast transport of electrons. However, the electron transport in the TiO2 film synthesized at low temperature is very poor. So, in this study, TiO2 films synthesized at high temperature were transferred on the selective substrate. We fabricated DSSCs at low temperature using this method. So, we confirmed that the performance of DSSCs using TiO2 films synthesized at high temperature was improved.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.180-184
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• 2015

Stainless steel (SS) mesh was used to fabricate photoelectrode for flexible dye-seisitzed solar cells (DSSCs) in order to evaluate them as replacements for more expensive transparent conductive oxide(TCO). We fabricated the DSSCs with new type of photoelectrode, which consisted of flexible SS mesh coated with 100 nm thickness titanium (Ti) protective layer deposited using electron-beam deposition system. SS mesh DSSCs with protective layer showed higher efficiency than those without a protective layer. The best cell property in the present study showed the open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.608 V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) of $5.73mA\;cm^{-2}$, fill factor (FF) of 65.13%, and efficiency (${\eta}$) of 2.44%. Compared with SS mesh based on DSSCs (1.66%), solar conversion of SS mesh based on DSSCs with protective layer improved about 47%.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.79-83
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are applied in the emerging fields of building integrated photovoltaic and electronics integrated photovoltaic like small portable power sources as demands are increased with characteristic advantages. Highly flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) prepared on single stainless steel mesh were proposed in this paper. Single mesh DSSCs structure utilizing the spraying the chopped glass paper on the surface treated stainless steel mesh for integrating the space element and the electrode components, counter electrode component and photoelectrode component were coated on each side of the single mesh. The fabricated single mesh DSSCs showed the energy-conversion efficiency 0.50% which show highly bendable ability. The new single mesh DSSCs may have potential applications as highly bendable solar cells to overcome the limitations of TCO-based DSSCs.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2020

The depletion of fossil fuels and the increase in environmental awareness have led to greater interest in renewable energy. In particular, solar cells have attracted attention because they can convert an infinite amount of solar energy into electricity. Dye-sensitize solar cells (DSSCs) are low cost third generation solar cells that can be manufactured using environmentally friendly materials. However, DSSC photoelectrodes are generally produced by screen printing, which requires high temperature heat treatment, and low temperature processes that can be used to produce flexible DSSCs are limited. To overcome these temperature limitations, this study fabricated photoelectrodes using room-temperature aerosol deposition. The resulting DSSCs had an energy conversion efficiency of 4.07 %. This shows that it is possible to produce DSSCs and flexible devices using room-temperature processes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.475-475
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• 2014

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are regarded as potential inexpensive alternatives to conventional solid-state devices. The flexible version, employing conductive-plastic-film substrates, is appealing for commercialization of DSSCs because it not only reduces the weight and cost of the device but also extends their applications. However, the need for high temperature does not permit the use of plastic-film substrate. So, development of low-temperature methods is therefore realization of flexible DSSCs. In this work, the electrophoretic deposition combined with hydrothermal treatment was employed to prepare nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ thin film at low temperature. We confirmed the prepared $TiO_2$ thin films with different voltages and deposition times in the electrophoretic deposition process. Properties of the $TiO_2$ films were investigated by various analysis method such as X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV-visible spectrophotometer.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.1560-1563
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• 2009

We fabricated Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells(DSSCs) which are modified by using liquid crystals(LCs) and electro-deposition on cathode electrode in order to apply to flexible DSSCs. We deposited Pt metal layers on ITO electrode through the method of electro-deposition process during low-temperature. We could expect the long-term stability by using ionic liquid(IL) and liquid crystals(LCs). We can also see the enhancement of efficiency through orientation of LCs in gel-state electrolyte using liquid crystals at the DSSCs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2019

Flexible dye-sensitized solar cells using binder free $TiO_2$ paste for low temperature sintering are developed. In this paste a small amount of titanium gel is added to a paste of $TiO_2$ nanoparticle. Analysis of titanium gel paste prepared at $150^{\circ}C$ shows that it has a pure anatase phase in XRD and mesoporous structure in SEM. The formation of the titanium gel 1-2 nm coated layer is confirmed by comparing the TEM image analysis of the titanium gel paste and the pristine paste. This coating layer improves the excited electron transfer and electrical contact between particles. The J-V curves of the organic binder DSSCs fabricated at $150^{\circ}C$ shows a current density of $0.12mA/cm^2$ and an open-circuit voltage of 0.47 V, while the titanium gel DSSCs improves electrical characteristics to $5.04mA/cm^2$ and 0.74 V. As a result, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the organic binder DSSC prepared at low temperature is as low as 0.02 %, but the titanium gel paste DSSCs has a measured effciency of 2.76 %.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.396-396
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• 2012

$TiO_2$ anatase nanotube arrays (NTAs) were grown by electrochemical anodization and followed annealing of Ti foil. Ethylene glycol/$NH_4F$-based organic electrolyte was used for electrolyte solution and using second anodization process to obtain free-standing NTAs. After obtaining NTAs, ITO film was deposited by sputtering process on bottom of NTAs. UV-curable NOA was used for attach free-standing NTAs on flexible plastic substrate (PEN). Solid state electrolyte (spiro-OMeTAD) was coated via spin-coating method on top of attached NTAs. Ag was deposited as a counter electrode. Under AM 1.5 simulated sunlight, optical characteristics of devices were investigated. In order to use flexible polymer substrate, processes have to be conducted at low temperature. In case of $TiO_2$ nano particles (NPs), however, crystallization of NPs at high temperature above $450^{\circ}C$ is required. Because NTAs were conducted high temperature annealing process before NTAs transfer to PEN, it is favorable for using PEN as flexible substrate. Fabricated flexible solid-state DSSCs make possible the preventing of liquid electrolyte corrosion and leakage, various application.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2022

A chemically sintered and binder-free paste of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) was prepared using a binary-liquid mixture of 1-octanol and CCl₄. The 1:1 (v/v) complex of CCl₄ and 1-octanol easily interacted chemically with the TiO₂ NPs and induced the formation of a highly viscous paste. The as-prepared binary-liquid paste (P_BL)-based TiO₂ film exhibited the complete removal of the binary-liquid and residuals with the subsequent low-temperature sintering (~150℃) and UV-O₃ treatment. This facilitated the fabrication of TiO₂ photoanodes for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (f-DSSCs). For comparison purposes, pure 1-octanol-based TiO₂ paste (P_O) with moderate viscosity was prepared. The P_BL-based TiO₂ film exhibited strong adhesion and high mechanical stability with the conducting oxide coated glass and plastic substrates compared to the P_O-based film. The corresponding low-temperature sintered P_BL-based f-DSSC showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.5%, while it was 2.0% for P_O-based f-DSSC. The P_BL-based low- and high-temperature (500℃) sintered glass-based rigid DSSCs exhibited the PCE of 6.0 and 6.3%, respectively, while this value was 7.1% for a 500℃ sintered rigid DSSC based on a commercial (or conventional) paste.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2013

We report here flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on Ti-mesh electrodes that show good mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity. $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays prepared by electrochemical anodizing Ti-mesh substrate were used as photoanode. A Pt-coated Ti-mesh substrate was used as counter electrode. The photoanodes were modified by coating a $TiO_2$ porous layer onto the $TiO_2$ nanotubes in order to increase the specific surface area. To increase the long term stability of the DSSCs, a gel type electrolyte was used instead of a conventional liquid type electrolyte. The DSSC based on $33.2{\mu}m$ long porous $TiO_2$ nanotubes exhibited a better energy conversion efficiency of ~2.33%, which was higher than that of the DSSCs based on non-porous $TiO_2$ nanotubes.