Hi,

You should fabricate device for each photoelectrode, why because if you are going to make thin films by doctor blade or any other technique, the thickness and uniformity of your film change by time to time. Which will generate differences in open circuit voltage and photo current and ultimately there will be a deference in efficiency of device.

And your question:  Can I setup only one photoelectrochemical cell for all the photoelectrods and measurements?

did not understand clearly. Anyway the  same counter electrode can be useful for all the photoelectrodes to fabricate the device. 

Further, I-V curve will be vary for different photoelectrodes by depending up on voltage current generation of those devices.

I think it is not possible to obtain different I-V curves with same photoelectrode unless there will be a change in current and voltage.

I hope you will understand this discussion.

_All the best....

_Thanks,

Chandrasekhar.

Dear Chandrasekhar, thank you for your answer. it seems that my question is not clear. I try to explain more. I have fabricated  multilayer thin film nanocomposites in different conditions on flexible substrates. Then, I will investigate their application as photoelectrods of DSSCs. I do not want to fabricate the  device for this purpose because it is expensive for me. I try to found a experimental setup like electrochemical instruments. In this way, I am able to characterize the thin films (their light response and I-V curve) without fabricating of device or cell for each experiment. 

i agree with youe answer Javier

Hi

  You can use a three neck RB flask as your PEC cell if no proper PEC set up is available. If you have done thin films of TiO2 directly on   conducting side of ITO or FTO then peel out 5mm area on the film so that substrate is visible. Use silver paste and Copper wire for contact and making connection to electrode. Please cover the electrode after drying with non conducting non transparent paste leaving 1cm2 of your materials. The can use a glass tube to provide strength to the electrode. This is your working electrode. Purchase a reference electrode and pt wire or mesh electrode. Buy septum from Aldrich make holes in them according to your electrodes. Then you can put electrolytes in 3-neck RB and insert your electrodes with septums. Now irradiate the working electrode and measure i-V in 3 electrode arrangements.

Additionally, make sure the exposed area of your electrode is constant for better calculation and comparison.

Dear Durantini,

Thank you so much. I read your paper. It's give me good idea.

Dear Nanda,

Thank you so much for your clear answer. It is very useful advice for me. Moreover, what electrolytes can I use for this setup (3electrod arrangements). Is it the same with 2electrod arrangments for example I-/I3-? 

Dear Zhang,

Thank you so much for your guidance. 

hello Maryam

If my understanding to your questions is correct, then please note:

1) TiO2 has band gap value more that 3.0 ev. Therefore you can not get good I-V plots in the visible region. If you use UV light (which is costly and not available widely) you can get I-V curves. Surely you need to expose the TiO2 layer to the redox couple, and avoid contact with conducting glass/plastic systems.

2) Using TiO2 is now not preferred for the reasons shown above. Must think of DSSC systems which are not difficult to prepare. My advice to you is simple: Use natural low cost dyes and anchor them to the TiO2 surface, then use the system as DSSC system. This is useful because you use your cell in the visible region (widely abundant solar light, instead of the costly UV). 

3) Even with TiO2 only, there is some UV light coming from the Sun. Only 5% as UV. BUt TiO2 has low absorption to UV, which will lower the efficiency and output drastically.

Dear Hilal,

thanks for your help. I am going to anchor the dye to TiO2 surfaces.Then I will get I-V curves. 

yes you can.

Hi Maryam,

Yes, you can. Simply design a suitable electrochemical cell which includes from two electrodes on of it anode to exposure of light source and other pole as counter " platinum " to complete the circuit and use a KELTHY device to setup the current and volte values. 

Regards,