Performance analysis of TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cell prepared by screen printing and doctor blade deposition techniques.

[Display omitted] • Detailed steps for TiO 2 paste preparation for SP and DB techniques are provided. • SP and DB techniques for photoanode deposition have been elaborated. • The efficiency of SP based DSSCs (7.25%) are better than DB based DSSC (6.13%). • Determination of R S , 'n' and I S for all fabricated DSSCs. • Comparison of AVT for SP (30.78%) and DB (33.38%) based DSSC are provided. The stability, efficiency, and cost etc. of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) does not depend on materials only. As these properties are linked with the method of layer preparation and deposition, therefore fabrication methods are crucial for enhancing the performance of DSSC. In this paper, we demonstrate the process of TiO 2 layer deposition by screen printing (SP) and doctor blade (DB) techniques, and the complete fabrication of DSSC. In addition, the preparation method of TiO 2 paste which is compatible for SP and DB techniques is also described. PV performance of TiO 2 layer printed by SP based DSSC is 6.72% which is better than 4.86% achieved by DB based DSSC. It is worth mentioning that power conversion efficiency (PCE) of cells was improved when a simple white paper is placed on the back surface of DSSCs during I-V characterization. Due to white paper, the incident light will be scattered or reflected again in the active area. This enhancement is remarkable, and it improves the PCE from 6.72% to 7.25% for SP and from 4.86% to 6.13% for DB technique based DSSC. We also calculated the series resistance (R S), saturation current (I S) and ideality factor ('n') for SP and DB technique based DSSC to understand the internal phenomena (charge transfer and recombination) and how these values influence the PV parameters. The transparency and colour effect of the SP and DB technique based DSSCs were explained by average visible transmittance (AVT), colour rendering index (CRI), and correlated colour temperature (CCT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]