Development of Solid-State Photo-Supercapacitor by Coupling Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Utilizing Conducting Polymer Charge Relay with Proton-Conducting Membrane Based Electrochemical Capacitor

An important issue in solar cell technology is the storage of generated electrical energy for later use. In this respect supercapacitors, as compared to batteries and electrolysis cells, offer the advantage of long-term stability and relatively low energy loss in the charge-discharge cycle. In this study, ruthenium oxide has been selected as charge storage material for coupled (integrated) dye-sensitized solar cell and supercapacitor system hereinafter called as three electrode configuration. Organic D35 dye was used to sensitize TiO2 photoanode and a conducting polymer, (poly-(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) served as hole conductor. The photovoltaic part was separated from charge storage material by utilizing a thin layer of vapour evaporated silver. The specific capacitance, power density, coulombic and energy conversion efficiency of the hybrid cell was analyzed. The system was compared to that of our previous reports, i.e. two electrode configuration built of N719 dye modified TiO2 and poly (3,4-ethylenodioxythiophene)/carbon nanotubes composite as charge storage material.