SUMMARYDye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have become a topic of significant research in the last two decades because of their scientific importance in the area of energy conversion. Currently, DSSC is using inorganic ruthenium (Ru)-based, metal-free organic dyes, quantum-dot sensitizer, perovskite-based sensitizer, and natural dyes as sensitizer. The use of metal-free, quantum-dot sensitizer, perovskite-based sensitizer, and natural dyes has become a viable alternative to expensive and rare Ru-based dyes because of low cost, ease of preparation, easy attainability, and environmental friendliness. Most of the alternatives to Ru-based dyes have so far proved inferior to the Ru-based dyes because of their narrow absorption bands (Δλ ≈ 100-250 nm), adverse dye aggregation, and instability. This review highlights the recent research on sensitizers for DSSC, including ruthenium complexes, metal-free organic dyes, quantum-dot sensitizer, perovskite-based sensitizer, mordant dyes, and natural dyes. It also details and tabulates all types of sensitizer with their corresponding efficiencies. Plot of progress in efficiency (η) of DSSC till date based on different types of sensitizers is also presented.

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advantages of these MMCs are reduced processing cost compared to other matrix materials such as magnesium and titanium [4] as well as ease of fabrication [1,5]. Mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of Al MMCs are very important requiring consideration in composite material design to ensure material reliability in applications such as aerospace, defence, automotive and sports [1]. In addition to use of Al MMCs in various corrosive environments, a detailed study has to be carried out on aluminium-based alloys and their composites [6]. From the available literature, it is found that the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of these composites are influenced by several factors such as the type, size and distribution of reinforcement added, method used for preparation of the composite, alloy composition and the interface between the matrix and reinforcement [7,8]. Any change in the above parameters can significantly alter the properties of these composites [8,9]. These properties are also influenced by the presence of heterogeneities such as reinforcement, voids, secondary phase precipitates and interaction products [9]. Although Al MMCs with different combinations of reinforcements have been widely investigated, only limited literature is available on zircon and alumina reinforced MMC. The choice of zircon and alumina as reinforcement is believed to significantly improve the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of Al-alloy-based hybrid composite. Hence in this work an attempt has been made to study the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of this new combination of hybrid composite. AbstractIn the present study, the effect of reinforcement on microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of aluminium-silicon-magnesium (Al-Si-Mg) alloy matrix hybrid composites reinforced with varying amounts of zircon and alumina has been investigated. Hardness and room temperature compressive tests were performed on Al-Si-Mg alloy as well as composites. Hardness and compressive strength was found to be higher for composites containing 3.75 % ZrSiO 4 + 11.25 % Al 2 O 3 . Similarly, Al-Si-Mg alloy and its composites were studied for corrosion behaviour in 1 N HCl corrosive media. The weight loss of all the composites was found to decrease with time due to the formation of passive oxide layer on the sample surface. The results obtained indicate that composites exhibit superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance compared to unreinforced alloy.

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