Electron Lifetime in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Theory and Interpretation of Measurements

The electron lifetime τn in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) is a central quantity to determine the recombination dynamics in the solar cell. It can be measured by several methods: impedance spectroscopy, IMVS, stepped time transients, and open-circuit voltage decays. The paper aims at a better understanding of this fundamental parameter. We summarize the main models that describe the lifetime dependence on bias voltage or carrier density, and find that there are two complementary approaches to clarify the structure of the lifetime. The first is to treat the lifetime as a product of the chemical capacitance and recombination resistance. This approach is important because the resistance largely determines…