Patterned photovoltaic cell
View Patent ↗Patterned photovoltaic cells, as well as related components and methods, are disclosed.
1. A method, comprising:
forming a formulation containing a dye and a thickening agent, the thickening agent comprising fumed silica particles,
after forming the formulation, disposing the formulation on a first material to form a photoactive layer, and
disposing the photoactive layer between two electrodes to provide a photovoltaic cell,
wherein the formulation comprises about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of the fumed silica particles.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation comprises about 12 wt % of the fumed silica particles.
3. A method, comprising:
forming a formulation containing a dye and a thickening agent,
after forming the formulation, disposing the formulation on a first material to form a photoactive layer, and
disposing the photoactive layer between two electrodes to provide a photovoltaic cell,
wherein the thickening agent comprises fumed silica particles having a surface modified with poly(dimethyl siloxane) moieties.
4. A method, comprising:
forming a formulation containing a dye and a thickening agent,
after forming the formulation, disposing the formulation on a first material to form a photoactive layer, and
disposing the photoactive layer between two electrodes to provide a photovoltaic cell,
wherein the formulation further comprises an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of g-butyrolactone, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, N,N-dimethylacetamide, propylene glycol phenyl ether, and mixtures thereof.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the organic solvent comprises a mixture of g-butyrolactone and 1-methoxy-2-propanol.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein g-butyrolactone and 1-methoxy-2-propanol are mixed at a ratio of about 1:5 vol./vol. to about 1:10 vol./vol.