Process for impregnating photosensitizing dye onto conductive substrate of photoanode of a solar cell
US8252620B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2010 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/542
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a process for preparing a photoanode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by pressure swing impregnation, which includes impregnating a metal oxide layer on a conductive substrate in a photosensitizing dye solution in a vessel; introducing a pressurized inert gas into the vessel to maintain a first pressure therein for a period of time, wherein the first pressure can be lower or higher than the critical pressure of the inert gas and the solution is expanded by the inert gas; further pressurizing the vessel with the inert gas and maintaining at a second pressure higher than the first pressure for a period of time, wherein the inert gas becomes sub-critical or supercritical fluid and dissolves more in the solution, creating an anti-solvent effect, so that the photosensitizing dye further deposits onto the metal oxide layer due to the anti-solvent effect.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.