Electrophoretically Deposited Titanium Dioxide Thin Films for Photovoltaic Cells

Abstract

A new technique for forming porous thin layers of nano -colloidal titanium dioxide on electronically conducting glass was developed. This technique uses constant-current electrophoretic deposition from a dispersion of Degussa P-25 titanium dioxide in 2-methoxyethanol followed by air-drying and annealing. Dye-sensitized TiO₂ photovoltaic cells constructed with these films gave current-voltage characteristics comparable with those of films produced by other techniques. A 30 cm² prototype photovoltaic cell was constructed with electrophoretically deposited TiO₂, and tested. Measurement of the dark current and photocurrent enabled the calculation of the light current, and the effect of both the dark current and the series resistance on the cell performance was demonstrated.