Laser-assisted nano particle deposition system and its application for dye sensitized solar cell fabrication

A novel fabrication process called laser-assisted nano particle deposition system (LaNPDS) was developed by integrating in situ laser irradiation process with the nano particle deposition system (NPDS). Energy is transferred from the 355 nm diode laser beam to nano particles flying through the supersonic nozzle before deposition. The laser helps local sintering of nano powders to form films free from thermal damage on the substrate. Nanoparticles of TiO2 were deposited on glass and polymer substrates using LaNPDS for the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), and their surface morphologies, cross-sections, crystallographic changes and mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) were characterized by using various analytical methods. Finally, the cell efficiency was approximately doubled compared with the one without laser assistance. (C) 2012 CIRP.