Flexible transparent conductive oxide-less flat and cylinder dye-sensitized solar cells

Fabrication and photovoltaic performances for flexible transparent conductive oxide-less (TCO-less) flat and cylinder dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are reported. The cylinder solar cell consists of a porous silicone tube, a protected stainless steel metal mesh (protected SUS mesh) working as a counter electrode, a gel electrolyte sheet, a dye/porous titania layer fabricated on a protected SUS mesh working as a anode, and a thermally shrinkable plastic tube, from the inside to the outside. The thermally shrinkable tube was used to reduce the gap between a cathode and an anode. In addition, a porous silicone tube was used for injecting electrolytes smoothly into the gel electrolyte layer. 5.08% efficiency (FF: 0.68; Voc: 0.68 V; Jsc: 11.07 mA/cm2) was observed. A flexible TCO-less flat DSCs with 6.1% efficiency which was improved by narrowing a gap between two electrodes is also reported.