We report on a theoretical investigation on the influence of different wavelength scale periodic grating architectures on dye sensitized solar cell (DSC). A broadband absorption enhancement is expected in such solar cells thanks to diffraction effects produced by these structures. Their optimal size has been analyzed in terms of pitch grating, height and position along the solar cell layers. Numerical simulations indicate that nanostructuring the interface between the active and the electrolyte layer by integrating a dielectric grating produces an absorption enhancement of 23.4%. The presented results have been also evaluated in view of feasible realistic structures compatible with low cost soft lithographic techniques.

© 2012 OSA

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4. C. Y. Chen, M. Wang, J. Y. Li, N. Pootrakulchote, L. Alibabaei, C. H. Ngoc-le, J. D. Decoppet, J. H. Tsai, C. Grätzel, C. G. Wu, S. M. Zakeeruddin, and M. Grätzel, “Highly efficient light-harvesting ruthenium sensitizer for thin-film dye-sensitized solar cells,” ACS Nano3(10), 3103–3109 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. M. A. Green, K. Emery, D. L. King, Y. Hishikawa, and W. Warta, “Solar cell efficiency tables (version 28),” Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl.14(5), 455–461 (2006). [CrossRef]
6. B. E. Hardin, H. J. Snaith, and M. D. McGehee, “The renaissance of dye-sensitized solar cells,” Nat. Photonics6(3), 162–169 (2012). [CrossRef]
7. SOLARONIX, www.solaronix.com .
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9. M. Nedelcu, J. Lee, E. J. W. Crossland, S. C. Warren, M. C. Orilall, S. Guldin, S. Hüttner, C. Ducati, D. Eder, U. Wiesner, U. Steiner, and H. J. Snaith, “Block copolymer directed synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 for dye-sensitized solar cells,” Soft Matter5(1), 134–139 (2008). [CrossRef]
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11. Z. S. Wang, K. Hara, Y. Dan-oh, C. Kasada, A. Shinpo, S. Suga, H. Arakawa, and H. Sugihara, “Photophysical and (photo)electrochemical properties of a coumarin dye,” J. Phys. Chem. B109(9), 3907–3914 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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13. M. Gorlov and L. Kloo, “Ionic liquid electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells,” Dalton Trans.20(20), 2655–2666 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. S. Hore, P. Nitz, C. Vetter, C. Prahl, M. Niggemann, and R. Kern, “Scattering spherical voids in nanocrystalline TiO2- enhancement of efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells,” Chem. Commun. (Camb.)15(15), 2011–2013 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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16. S. Nishimura, N. Abrams, B. A. Lewis, L. I. Halaoui, T. E. Mallouk, K. D. Benkstein, J. van de Lagemaat, and A. J. Frank, “Standing wave enhancement of red absorbance and photocurrent in dye-sensitized titanium dioxide photoelectrodes coupled to photonic crystals,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.125(20), 6306–6310 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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18. S. Colodrero, A. Forneli, C. Lopez-Lopez, L. Pelleja, H. Miguez, and E. Palomares, “Efficient transparent thin dye solar cells based on highly porous 1D photonic crystals,” Adv. Funct. Mater.22(6), 1303–1310 (2012). [CrossRef]
19. K. Q. Le, A. Abass, B. Maes, P. Bienstman, and A. Alù, “Comparing plasmonic and dielectric gratings for absorption enhancement in thin-film organic solar cells,” Opt. Express20(1), A39–A50 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
20. Z. Yu, A. Raman, and S. Fan, “Fundamental limit of light trapping in grating structures,” Opt. Express18(S1Suppl 3), A366–A380 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
21. A. Naqavi, K. Söderström, F.-J. Haug, V. Paeder, T. Scharf, H. P. Herzig, and C. Ballif, “Understanding of photocurrent enhancement in real thin film solar cells: towards optimal one-dimesional grating,” Opt. Express19(1), 128–140 (2011). [CrossRef]
22. D. Colonna, L. Dominici, D. D’Ercole, A. Brunetti, F. Michelotti, T. M. Brown, A. Reale, and A. Di Carlo, “Photocurrent enhancement of dye solar cells by efficient ligth management,” Superlattices Microstruct.47(1), 197–201 (2010). [CrossRef]
23. L. Dominici, L. Vesce, D. Colonna, F. Michelotti, T. M. Brown, A. Reale, and A. Di Carlo, “Angular and prism coupling refractive enhancement in dye solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett.96(10), 103302 (2010). [CrossRef]
24. S. Rühle, S. Greenwald, E. Koren, and A. Zaban, “Optical waveguide enhanced photovoltaics,” Opt. Express16(26), 21801–21806 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
25. A. Raman, Z. Yu, and S. Fan, “Dielectric nanostructures for broadband light trapping in organic solar cells,” Opt. Express19(20), 19015–19026 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
26. COMSOLTM, www.comsol.com .
27. Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE), www.chose.uniroma2.it .
28. P. Prosposito, M. Casalboni, E. Orsini, C. Palazzesi, and F. Stella, “UV-Nanoimprinting lithography of Bragg Gratings on hybrid sol-gel based channel waveguides,” Solid State Sci.12(11), 1886–1889 (2010). [CrossRef]
29. G. Brusatin, G. Della Giustina, M. Guglielmi, M. Casalboni, P. Prosposito, S. Schutzmann, and G. Roma, “Direct pattern of photocurable glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane based sol-gel hybrid waveguides for photonic applications,” Mater. Sci. and Engineer. C27(5-8), 1022–1025 (2007). [CrossRef]

ACS Nano

• C. Y. Chen, M. Wang, J. Y. Li, N. Pootrakulchote, L. Alibabaei, C. H. Ngoc-le, J. D. Decoppet, J. H. Tsai, C. Grätzel, C. G. Wu, S. M. Zakeeruddin, and M. Grätzel, “Highly efficient light-harvesting ruthenium sensitizer for thin-film dye-sensitized solar cells,” ACS Nano3(10), 3103–3109 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Adv. Funct. Mater.

• S. Colodrero, A. Forneli, C. Lopez-Lopez, L. Pelleja, H. Miguez, and E. Palomares, “Efficient transparent thin dye solar cells based on highly porous 1D photonic crystals,” Adv. Funct. Mater.22(6), 1303–1310 (2012). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• L. Dominici, L. Vesce, D. Colonna, F. Michelotti, T. M. Brown, A. Reale, and A. Di Carlo, “Angular and prism coupling refractive enhancement in dye solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett.96(10), 103302 (2010). [CrossRef]
• F. Inakazu, Y. Noma, Y. Ogomi, and S. Hayase, “Dye-sensitized solar cells consisting of dye-bilayer structure stained with two dyes for harvesting light of wide range of wavelength,” Appl. Phys. Lett.93(9), 093304–1 (2008). [CrossRef]

Chem. Commun. (Camb.)

• J. H. Yum, S. R. Jang, P. Walter, T. Geiger, F. Nüesch, S. Kim, J. Ko, M. Grätzel, and M. K. Nazeeruddin, “Efficient co-sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 films by organic sensitizers,” Chem. Commun. (Camb.)44(44), 4680–4682 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. Hore, P. Nitz, C. Vetter, C. Prahl, M. Niggemann, and R. Kern, “Scattering spherical voids in nanocrystalline TiO2- enhancement of efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells,” Chem. Commun. (Camb.)15(15), 2011–2013 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Coord. Chem. Rev.

• J. R. Durrant, S. A. Haque, and E. Palomares, “Towards optimization of electron transfer processes in Dye sensitized solar cells,” Coord. Chem. Rev.248(13-14), 1247–1257 (2004). [CrossRef]

Dalton Trans.

• M. Gorlov and L. Kloo, “Ionic liquid electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells,” Dalton Trans.20(20), 2655–2666 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Am. Chem. Soc.

• S. Nishimura, N. Abrams, B. A. Lewis, L. I. Halaoui, T. E. Mallouk, K. D. Benkstein, J. van de Lagemaat, and A. J. Frank, “Standing wave enhancement of red absorbance and photocurrent in dye-sensitized titanium dioxide photoelectrodes coupled to photonic crystals,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.125(20), 6306–6310 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• F. Gao, Y. Wang, D. Shi, J. Zhang, M. Wang, X. Jing, R. Humphry-Baker, P. Wang, S. M. Zakeeruddin, and M. Grätzel, “Enhance the optical absorptivity of nanocrystalline TiO2 film with high molar extinction coefficient ruthenium sensitizers for high performance dye-sensitized solar cells,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.130(32), 10720–10728 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Phys. Chem. B

• Z. S. Wang, K. Hara, Y. Dan-oh, C. Kasada, A. Shinpo, S. Suga, H. Arakawa, and H. Sugihara, “Photophysical and (photo)electrochemical properties of a coumarin dye,” J. Phys. Chem. B109(9), 3907–3914 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Phys. Chem. C

• A. Mihi, M. E. Calvo, J. A. Anta, and H. Miguez, “Spectral response of opal based dye-sensitized solar cells,” J. Phys. Chem. C112(1), 13–17 (2008). [CrossRef]

Mater. Sci. and Engineer. C

• G. Brusatin, G. Della Giustina, M. Guglielmi, M. Casalboni, P. Prosposito, S. Schutzmann, and G. Roma, “Direct pattern of photocurable glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane based sol-gel hybrid waveguides for photonic applications,” Mater. Sci. and Engineer. C27(5-8), 1022–1025 (2007). [CrossRef]

Nat. Photonics

• B. E. Hardin, H. J. Snaith, and M. D. McGehee, “The renaissance of dye-sensitized solar cells,” Nat. Photonics6(3), 162–169 (2012). [CrossRef]

Nature

• B. O’Regan and M. Gratzel, “A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films,” Nature353(6346), 737–740 (1991). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• J. R. Nagel and M. A. Scarpulla, “Enhanced absorption in optically thin solar cells by scattering from embedded dielectric nanoparticles,” Opt. Express18(S2Suppl 2), A139–A146 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. Rühle, S. Greenwald, E. Koren, and A. Zaban, “Optical waveguide enhanced photovoltaics,” Opt. Express16(26), 21801–21806 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Raman, Z. Yu, and S. Fan, “Dielectric nanostructures for broadband light trapping in organic solar cells,” Opt. Express19(20), 19015–19026 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• K. Q. Le, A. Abass, B. Maes, P. Bienstman, and A. Alù, “Comparing plasmonic and dielectric gratings for absorption enhancement in thin-film organic solar cells,” Opt. Express20(1), A39–A50 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Z. Yu, A. Raman, and S. Fan, “Fundamental limit of light trapping in grating structures,” Opt. Express18(S1Suppl 3), A366–A380 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Naqavi, K. Söderström, F.-J. Haug, V. Paeder, T. Scharf, H. P. Herzig, and C. Ballif, “Understanding of photocurrent enhancement in real thin film solar cells: towards optimal one-dimesional grating,” Opt. Express19(1), 128–140 (2011). [CrossRef]

Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl.

• M. A. Green, K. Emery, D. L. King, Y. Hishikawa, and W. Warta, “Solar cell efficiency tables (version 28),” Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl.14(5), 455–461 (2006). [CrossRef]

Soft Matter

• M. Nedelcu, J. Lee, E. J. W. Crossland, S. C. Warren, M. C. Orilall, S. Guldin, S. Hüttner, C. Ducati, D. Eder, U. Wiesner, U. Steiner, and H. J. Snaith, “Block copolymer directed synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 for dye-sensitized solar cells,” Soft Matter5(1), 134–139 (2008). [CrossRef]

Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells

• A. Kay and M. Gratzel, “Low cost photovoltaic modules based on dye sensitized nanocrystalline titanium dioxide and carbon powder,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells44(1), 99–117 (1996). [CrossRef]

Solid State Sci.

• P. Prosposito, M. Casalboni, E. Orsini, C. Palazzesi, and F. Stella, “UV-Nanoimprinting lithography of Bragg Gratings on hybrid sol-gel based channel waveguides,” Solid State Sci.12(11), 1886–1889 (2010). [CrossRef]

Superlattices Microstruct.

• D. Colonna, L. Dominici, D. D’Ercole, A. Brunetti, F. Michelotti, T. M. Brown, A. Reale, and A. Di Carlo, “Photocurrent enhancement of dye solar cells by efficient ligth management,” Superlattices Microstruct.47(1), 197–201 (2010). [CrossRef]

Other

• COMSOLTM, www.comsol.com .
• Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE), www.chose.uniroma2.it .
• SOLARONIX, www.solaronix.com .

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