i don't understand why there are two transparent conductive oxides present in a DSSC. Is it not enough if the top layer that faces the incidence of light is transparent and conductive? I find it puzzling why the bottom layer of DSSC is transparent to let the light pass through it thereby wasting light rather we can reflect it internally to improve the efficiency like we do in the conventional solar cells
You're absolutely right - the only reason to use a rear side TCO is either if it has more suitable work function than a metal, less contact recombination than a metal, or if you want the entire cell to be semi-transparent for aesthetic reasons.
Dear Lokesh,
Would you please specify the structure of the DSSC you are speaking about?
wish you success
in the image that i have attached I would like to why there is another glass at the counter electrode region, why not have an opaque base at the counter electrode region rather than having a transparent one.
Dear Loesh,
what do you have in the figure is a hypothetical structure of a DSSC solar cells.
As for the counter electrode it is composed of a substrate which may be either glass or polymer that is coated with the metallic cathode sheet. This sheet is normally thick such that it is opaque for the light . So, this electrode is opaque and one can use an opaque substrate as well. The anode in the left must be transparent such that light can reach to the light absorbing dye carried on the surface of porous TiO2. TiO2 as thin transparent oxide serves as scaffold for the dye and at the same time as an transport layer while blocking holes from flowing toward the the TCO on the glass that serves as an anode for solar cell accessing by the outer circuit.
I thin the things is now in order.
Best wishes
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