Clarification of Catalytic Effect on Large Stretchable and Compressible Rubber Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Rubber involving magnetic compound fluid (MCF) and TiO2 is effective in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to create large efficacy. Wearable and portable solar cells made of MCF rubber are the most desirable as soft materials in robots or flexible devices, and they are further desirable because they have self-generated power and power supply with sensing. Therefore, we investigated the effect of TiO2 catalysts on the photovoltaic effect of MCF rubber DSSCs under large tension and compression. The characteristics of the built-in electricity and photoelectricity were clarified experimentally. The experimental results were explained by a chemical–photovoltaic mechanism involving the behavior of dye, electrolytes, water, and rubber molecules, as well as a catalytic effect of the metal component of the MCF on Ni, Fe3O4, and TiO2. Once we are able to produce solar cells that have large tension and compression, the present experimental results and the model of the chemical–photovoltaic mechanism will be of great interest.