DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS
Structure of dye sensitized solar cells (also called Grätzel cells)
The dye sensitized solar cells invented by Prof. Michaël Grätzel of the EPFL Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces is composed of two plates of glass coated with a ceramic powder, cooked at 400 degrees, on which a dye is deposited. A conductive liquid is added between both plates, and each plate is connected to an electric wire to generate electricity.
The technique used to deposit the powder is similar to screen-printing, which provides a host of visual possibilities. The range of dye colours is varied and one can play on the transparency as well.
Three solar cell suppliers cooperated with the design schools on this workshop: Solaronix, G24i and Dyesol, each producing cells with different features.
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