Fabrication and Characterization of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells for Greenhouse Application

We have developed dye-sensitized solar cells using novel sensitizers with enhanced transmittance of red (625-675 nm) and blue (425-475 nm) wavebands to control the illumination condition in the greenhouse. Novel ruthenium bipyridyl sensitizers with general formulas (Me3PhN)(4)[Ru(dcbpy)(2)(NCS)(2)] (JJ-7) and (Me3BnN)(4)[Ru(dcbpy)(2)(NCS)(2)] (JJ-9) have been synthesized and demonstrated as efficient sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells for greenhouse application. Under standard AM 1.5 sunlight, the solar cell of JJ-7 using a liquid-based electrolyte exhibits a short-circuit photocurrent density of 8.49 mA/cm(2), an open-circuit voltage of 0.83 V, and a fill factor of 0.71, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 4.96% on 5 mu m TiO2 film. The transmittance of JJ-7 and JJ-9 shows 62.0% and 61.0% at 660 nm and 18.0% and 15.0% at 440 nm for cultivation on 5 mu m TiO2 film, respectively.