Research and Creative Experience for

Undergraduates Program (RCEU)

Summer 2015

Ink-Jet Printing: A Method for Affordable Additive

Manufacturing of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Ryan Longchamps, Dr. George Nelson,
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Introduction

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell:

Structure and Function [1]

Background
A colloidal suspension of titania (TiO2) is deposited on a
conductive substrate, ultimately functioning as one of the
primary components of the electrode of a dye-sensitized solar
cell (DSSC)
A method of fabrication of DSSCs that is affordable while still
maintaining or increasing efficiency has yet to be realized
Objectives
Determine the density, surface tension and viscosity of the
colloidal TiO2 suspensions
Calculate dimensionless quantities that govern ink-jet
printability of these suspensions
Determine process parameters that have the greatest chance
of yielding a suspension that can be successfully deposited
through the printing process
Experimental Process

Mix Inks

Test
Viscosity

Test Surface
Tension

Test
Density

Coat Slides
(Manually)

Key Findings

10,000

10% vol. titania with surfactant

10% vol. titania without surfactant

20% vol. titania with surfactant

1 Z 10
4 Z 14

Weber Number, We

1,000

Conclusions
Particle loading primarily governs the
printability of the inks
An ink with a particle loading of approximately
10% would serve as a promising initial input
into the ink-jet printing process

Conceptual Framework
high viscosity
region

This research provides preliminary insight into

whether DSSC electrodes can be affordably
and effectively fabricated with ink-jet printing.
Further investigation into the application of
TiO2 ink-jet printing for DSSC electrodes can
expand upon this insight.

100

low viscosity
region

10

Acknowledgements

insufficient energy for drop formation

1
0

10

100

1,000

Reynolds Number, Re

Ink-Jet Printability Regime: Weber Number vs. Reynolds Number with three data sets
plotted with the ranges of the Z Number experimentally determined to govern ink-jet
printability [2,3]. The vertical and horizontal crosshatched regions, as defined in the
legend, indicate the ranges of the Z number that have been experimentally proven to
bound ink-jet printability. Data for 20% vol. titania without surfactant is not represented
here due to its viscosity values falling out of the range of the laboratory equipment.

References
[1] Smestad and Gratzel, Demonstrating Electron Transfer and Nanotechnology: A Natural Dye-Sensitized Nanocrystalline Energy Converter
[2] Daehwan Jang, Influence of Fluid Physical Properties on Ink-Jet Printability.
[3] Derby and Reis, Inkjet Printing of Highly Loaded Particulate Suspensions.

We would like to thank the UAH Office of the Provost,

UAH office of the Vice President for Research and
Economic Development and the Alabama Space Grant
Consortium for their sponsorship of the RCEU program.
Moreover, We would like to express our gratitude
towards Mr. Zachary van Zandt for his
guidance and mentoring throughout the
project. Lastly, We would like to thank Dr.
Bernhard Vogler and Mr. David Cook for
their extensive efforts that made the
RCEU program possible.