A Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), also known as a Grätzel cell, is a low-cost solar cell that uses dye molecules to convert sunlight into electricity. It consists of a photo-sensitized anode, typically made of titanium dioxide, coated with a dye like pomegranate. An electrolyte fills the space between the anode and a cathode, usually graphite or platinum. When sunlight is absorbed by the dye molecules, electrons are transferred through the titanium dioxide to the anode, creating a current that is collected at the cathode. This current can then be used as a source of electricity.

1. Dye Sensitized Solar Cell
(Grätzel Cell)
Group 4 Project :Chemistry
By
Ninad Patil
and
Atharva Tendle

2. What is a DSSC?
A dye sensitized solar cell is a new kind of
relatively low cost solar cell with great
potential as its materials are considerably
cheaper and it is simple to make.

3. How does a DSSC function?
A DSSC functions due to the interactions
between the cell's anode and the cathode,
and the nanoparticles of titanium oxide,
coated with light sensitive dye and
surrounded by electrolyte.

4. The components

5. The Anode
A Flourine-doped Tin Oxide glass is used as
the anode with one side conductive.
An Indium tin-oxide glass is also used at some
places.
We made two Tin Oxide glass using
SnCl2(Stannous Chloride).

18. Amrut Sir

19. Titanium dioxide
Mesh of titanium dioxide nanoparticles are
situated between the anode and the
cathode, this mesh acts as a route for the
electrons passing through.
The TiO2 nanoparticles are coated with a light
absorbing dye which converts photons(light)
to electrons(electricity).

20. The Dye
We used a pomegranate dye instead of a
blackberry or a raspberry dye because
pomegranate dye also contains the key
ingredient needed for the photochemical
reaction to occur.
This pigment is called Anthocyanin.

21. Cathode
On the other side there is the cathode which is
usually a film of graphite or platinum.
For our DSSC we used a FTO conductive glass,
on which we added graphite on the
conductive side using a pencil.And then we
heated it at 300C for fifteen minutes.

26. Electrolyte
An electrolyte(usually iodide) fills up the spaces
between and helps transfer electrons.
Lithium iodide is the most used electrolyte in
the production of DSSCs.

40. How is the electricity generated?
When photon strikes a dye molecule, the
energy from the photon is absorbed into the
dye molecule.The dye molecule enters an
excited state and, emits an electron.
The emitted electron travels through the TiO2
nano particles until it reaches the anode ( or
it is lost to the iodide solution because of
defects in the TiO2 nanoparticles)
The iodide molecules in the solution give
electrons to the dye molecules that have lost
the electrons

41. The components

42. The Result
Then, the electrons from the cathode
restore the electrons needed by the
iodide, which restores the electrons
needed by the dye molecules, and the
whole process keeps reoccuring.
The electrons flow from the anode to the
cathode and create a current,which is
measured using a multimeter.