Multi-Physics Simulation-Based Prognosis of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles-Embedded Solar Cell

Abstract

This study focuses on the multi-physics simulation-based prognosis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2, NPs) doped in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), considering optical and electrical properties. The fabrication of TiO2, NPs using the Sol-Gel method (400 oC) is the optimal calcination temperature to achieve an anatase phase. Various physical-chemical properties tests for TiO2, NPs are conducted to understand optical and electrical characterizations utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-vis) absorption spectrophotometry. Optical properties such as absorption, bandgap, deflection, and photoluminescence emission are also observed. Based on the best case of high-power energy conversion (PEC) amongst semiconductor material characterizations, multi-physics simulation (optical and electrical properties) for three-dimensional (3D) TiO2, NPs is carried out to acquire time-dependent current data, which is relative to degradation for DSSC. A data-driven prognosis of solar cells is then conducted by using degradation data. According to dye molecule layers, the remaining useful life (RUL) is stochastically predicted. The main contribution is to suggest the framework of multi-physics simulation-based prognosis for power energy applications.