Micro contact printed PEDOT: PSS as cathode in dye sensitized solar cells

The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a solar cell which is mimicking the process of photosynthesis and converts the visible light into electricity. DSSC have begun as the third generation of photovoltaic devices, which offers advantages, including judicious light to photon conversion efficiency, low cost, flexible and easy fabrication. In this work we made photo cathode by printing PEDOT:PSS on FTO glass plate by the method of micro contact printing using a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp replicated from compact disc. The PDMS stamp is analyzed using AFM. The thickness and transmittance of the printed photo cathode is studied. DSSC is made with Alizarine Red as the sensitizing Dye. The photovoltaic parameters of the device are analysed. It is found that the microcontact printing can also be used as an effective technology to fabricate solar cells.