The photoanode of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is typically a mesoporous titanium dioxide thin film adhered to a conductive glass plate.  In the case of TEC-8 glass, an approximately 700 nm film of tin oxide provides the conductivity of this substrate.  During the calcining step of photoanode fabrication, tin diffuses into the other layers.  SEM and Electron Dispersion Microscopy are used to analyze the spreading of tin through the photoanode. The transport of tin is described using Fick's Law of Diffusion through a semi-infinite medium with a fixed tin concentration at the interface.  Preliminary data suggest that this diffusion follows the Arrhenius model for diffusion in solids. However a semi-infinite model may be needed for the finite TiO2 layer.  At temperatures (400 to 600 �C) and times (30 to 90 min) typically employed in the calcinations of titanium dioxide layers for dye sensitized solar cells, the variation of the tin thickness may be affecting the resistance of the photoanode.

Analysis of EDS spectra of titanium dioxide coated TEC-8 conductive glass: Modeling diffusion in the photoanode of dye sensitized solar cells

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.