Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) Materials & Fine Chemicals
APA Solar Technology supplies a comprehensive range of specialty chemicals, functional materials, and consumables for the development and production of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), Perovskite Solar Cells, and related photo-electrochemical devices.
Our products are designed for research laboratories, universities, pilot production facilities, and industrial-scale manufacturing.
Discover APA Solar Technology’s media features, industry recognition, research collaborations, and innovation milestones.
Electrode Materials
FTO Conductive Glass Substrates
Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide (FTO) conductive glass is widely used as the photoanode or counter electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.
A transparent conductive tin oxide coating is deposited onto float glass at high temperatures, producing substrates with different:
- Sheet resistances
- Optical transparencies
- Electrical conductivities
Because these substrates undergo high-temperature processing during cell fabrication, it is essential that the electrical resistance remains stable before and after heat treatment.
Although many suppliers use the term TEC Glass, the quality can vary considerably. When selecting FTO substrates, researchers should consider:
- Sheet resistance stability
- Optical transparency
- Uniform coating quality
- Thermal stability
Higher sheet resistance generally results in lower photovoltaic performance.
TEC 8 Glass (3.2 mm)
TEC 8 is one of the most widely used commercial FTO glass substrates.
Specifications
- Thickness: 3.2 mm
- Sheet Resistance: 8–10 Ω/sq
- Transparency: approximately 76%
It offers an excellent balance between electrical conductivity and optical transparency.
Typical Manufacturers
- Pilkington (USA/UK)
- AGC (Japan)
- NSG Nippon Sheet Glass (Japan)
Several Chinese manufacturers also produce FTO glass under licence from AGC or NSG. However, quality consistency should always be carefully verified.
Available Sizes
APA Solar Technology supplies TEC 8 glass in quantities suitable for both research and production.
Standard sizes include:
- 5 × 5 cm
- 10 × 10 cm
- 20 × 20 cm
- 30 × 30 cm
- 100 × 100 cm
Both single pieces and bulk quantities are available.
TEC 10 Glass (2.2 mm)
TEC 10 (2.2 mm) provides higher optical transparency while maintaining excellent electrical performance.
Specifications
- Thickness: 2.2 mm
- Sheet Resistance: 10–15 Ω/sq
- Transparency: approximately 80%
Because this thickness is not commonly used within the construction industry, relatively few manufacturers still produce it.
Typical Manufacturers
- Pilkington
- AGC
- NSG Nippon Sheet Glass
APA Solar Technology supplies this material in small quantities specifically for research laboratories and universities, where commercial suppliers often require minimum orders of 10,000–30,000 m².
Available Sizes
- 5 × 5 cm
- 10 × 10 cm
- 20 × 20 cm
- 30 × 30 cm
- 100 × 100 cm
TEC 10 Glass (1.7 mm)
Highly transparent hard-coated FTO glass.
Specifications
- Thickness: 1.7 mm
- Excellent optical transparency
- High-quality conductive coating
- Available sizes from 5 × 5 cm to 50 × 50 cm (confirm dimensions with the client, as the original text says “5×50 cm,” which may be a typo).
ITO Conductive Glass
Available with:
- 10 Ω/sq sheet resistance
- Flexible ITO substrates for specialised applications
Titanium Dioxide (TiOâ‚‚) Pastes
APA Solar Technology offers several titanium dioxide formulations suitable for different fabrication methods.
- Screen-printable pastes
- Doctor-blading pastes
- Transparent TiOâ‚‚ pastes – Nano-porous anatase titanium dioxide paste (7–10 nm particles) used to produce transparent photoanodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.
- Opaque TiOâ‚‚Â pastes – Contains a mixture of nano-sized and larger anatase particles (>90 nm), creating an efficient light-scattering layer for non-transparent photoanodes.
- Light-scattering pastes – Specially formulated titanium dioxide paste used as an insulating and light-scattering layer in monolithic solar cells.
- Water-based formulations
Oxide Pastes
- Zirconium Dioxide (ZrOâ‚‚) Paste – Zirconium dioxide is commonly used as an electrically insulating porous layer in tandem and monolithic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.
Available as a screen-printable porous paste.
Conductive Pastes
- Silver Paste – Highly conductive silver paste designed to reduce electrical resistance within photovoltaic devices.
Available as:
- Low-temperature paint
- Screen-printable paste for high-temperature processing
- Carbon Paste – Highly conductive porous carbon paste used as a counter electrode in monolithic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.
Available as a screen-printable formulation.
- Platinum Catalyst Precursors –Â
Platinum catalyst precursors are used to deposit catalytic layers onto counter electrodes during Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell fabrication.
Available as:
Solvent-Based PaintApplied using:
- Brush coating
- Spray coating
Suitable for industrial screen-printing processes.
APA Solar Technology also provides guidance on:
- Printing parameters
- Drying conditions
- Heat-curing profiles
Dye Sensitizers
- Ruthenium-based dyes
Electrolytes
- Ionic Liquid Electrolytes
- Solvent-Based Electrolytes
Sealing Materials
- Surlyn® Hot-Melt Sheets
- Bynel® Hot-Melt Sheets
- High-Temperature Glass Sealing Paste –
Designed to protect silver conductive tracks from corrosive electrolytes within solar devices.
APA Solar Technology also provides:
- Printable glass pastes
- Screen mesh recommendations
- Custom screen preparation
- Temperature profile optimisation for kilns and furnaces
For technical advice, please contact us.
Solar Cell Samples
Available in various:
- Sizes
- Colours
- Configurations
Ready to Build Your Solar Solution?
From materials and equipment to consulting and project support, APA Solar Technology is ready to help.