Efficient and novel Sb2S3 based solar cells with chitosan/poly(ethylene glycol)/electrolyte blend

Summary We present here a novel solar cell made of ITO/composite p‐doped Sb2S3 + P3HT + PANI+TiO2/amorphous Sb2S3 + P3HT + PANI + TiO2/n‐doped Sb2S3 + P3HT + PANI + TiO2/solid carrier/aluminum as counter electrode. With spraying technique, the layers were deposited and the thickness of films was 1 μm. A new solid carrier of electrolyte was a blend consisted of chitosan (low MW), polyethylene glycol and electrolyte. X‐ray diffraction was recorded to confirm the amorphous nature of the blend. Information about the surface appearance and roughness of a solid carrier dry and soaked in the electrolyte was given by atomic force microscopy. The solar cell was examined at very low and low light intensity (5% and 35% of sun, respectively), and at standard test conditions (100% of sun) using different light sources. The whole cell surface was 7.5 cm2 while the illuminated part was 3 cm2. Obtained results expressed for the illuminated surface showed the highest efficiency of 23.1% at 5% of sun while the efficiency of the cell was 2.9% at 35% of sun and only 0.75% at intensity of 100% of sun. Left part of the figure represents schematic of designed cell and images of the thin films and solid carrier while right side presents simplified band energy diagram of solar cell.