Direct light-induced polymerization of cobalt-based redox shuttles: an ultrafast way towards stable dye-sensitized solar cells

Bella, Federico; Vlachopoulos, Nikolaos; Nonomura, Kazuteru; Zakeeruddin, Shaik M.; Grätzel, Michaël; Gerbaldi, Claudio; Hagfeldt, Anders

doi:10.1039/c5cc05533d

Cited by 83 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…TiO 2 is the most used anodic material not only for PSCs, but also for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). [129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141] It presents several advantages, such as low cost, low toxicity, adequate band-gap and high electron collection efficiency. Some efforts have been made to further ameliorate its performance in 142 The structure of TiO 2 NSs ensured a higher number of (001) facets, with respect to that observed for TiO 2 NPs, due to the elongated geometry.…”

Section: High-temperature Processed Front Electrodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon-based materials for stable, cheaper and large-scale processable perovskite solar cells

Fagiolari

Bella

2019

Energy Environ. Sci.

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260

188

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Almost ten years after their first use in the photovoltaic (PV) field, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are now hybrid devices that, in addition to having reached silicon performance, can accelerate the energy transition and boost the use of abundant elements for their manufacturing process. However, noble metals (in particular gold) represent the most typically used sources for back electrode fabrication, and this issue has been intensively considered by the research community in the last five years. This review shows how the most promising solution, considering also the need to develop a large-scale production process, is based on the use of carbon-based materials for the preparation of back electrodes. Graphite, carbon black, graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been proposed, functionalized and characterized, leading to laboratory-scale solar cells and modules capable of providing excellent efficiencies and ensuring stability greater than those of gold-based devices. Strengthened by these results and its hydrophobizing properties, carbon has also started to be used as an electron transporting material (ETM), with excellent results on both rigid and flexible substrates. This review discusses the major advances and the updated state-of-the-art in the carbon-based PSC scenario, keeping a solid trajectory where the accessibility, low cost, high electrical conductivity, chemical stability and controllable porosity of carbon are highlighted and exploited in the design of upscalable hybrid solar cells. Broader contextToday, more than 75% of the world energy demand is met by traditional, non-sustainable energy resources, mainly based on coal, natural gas and oil. Photovoltaics represents a concrete action to mitigate fossil fuel consumption, and among all the developed solar cells, perovskite-based ones have shown the highest increase in terms of efficiency (currently above 25%). Halide perovskites, as a family of new-generation semiconductor materials, are also exploitable for light-emitting devices, photodetectors and memristors, but their use in photovoltaics gives rise to outstanding performances. Here, photogenerated charges pass through electron/hole transporting materials and are transferred to the external circuit by front and back electrodes. While the front electrode is a common conductive glass, many issues are now under study concerning the back electrode, traditionally made of gold. Indeed, replacing this expensive metal with a much cheaper alternative is vital for realizing affordable solar technologies. Carbon, in its multiple forms, represents the winning solution and the scientific community has recently shown its large scale processability, its power as a stability booster and some interesting effects at the perovskite/electrode interface. This review shows how carbon is becoming the winning ingredient for the scaling up and worldwide diffusion of perovskite solar cells.

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Section: High-temperature Processed Front Electrodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon-based materials for stable, cheaper and large-scale processable perovskite solar cells

Fagiolari

Bella

2019

Energy Environ. Sci.

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260

188

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“…One way to improve the stability of a DSSC is the immobilization of a liquid electrolyte into a polymer matrix, so that a quasi-sold state DSSC is obtained. Bella, et al [133] demonstrated that by immobilization of ACN into a polymer matrix the long-term stability is substantially improved. The particular approach of the authors for in-situ electrolyte immobilization consists of the addition of a monomer precursor, BEMA or PEGMA, as well as a photoinitiator, into the electrolyte and, after assembling the DSSC, exposure to UV irradiation for a short time.…”

Section: Cobalt Mediatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal Coordination Complexes as Redox Mediators in Regenerative Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

et al. 2019

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Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted a substantial interest in the last 30 years for the conversion of solar power to electricity. An important component is the redox mediator effecting the transport of charge between the photoelectrode and the dark counter electrode (CE). Among the possible mediators, metal coordination complexes play a prominent role and at present are incorporated in several types of devices with a power conversion efficiency exceeding 10%. The present review, after a brief introduction to the operation of DSSCs, discusses at first the requirements for a successful mediator. Subsequently, the properties of various classes of inorganic coordination complexes functioning as mediators relevant to DSSC operation are presented and the operational characteristics of DSSC devices analyzed. Particular emphasis is paid to the two main classes of efficient redox mediators, the coordination complexes of cobalt and copper; however other less efficient but promising classes of mediators, notably complexes of iron, nickel, manganese and vanadium, are also presented.

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“…As a viable solution, DSCs based on a gel electrolyte can compete with their liquid counterparts in terms of PCE, and importantly, they have been reported to exhibit (in the presence of the standard iodide/triiodide redox couple) better long-term stability [63][64][65][66][67]. Gelled polymer electrolytes are highly interesting systems due to their facile preparation, as well as excellent liquid trapping capability [68][69][70][71][72].…”

Section: Polymeric Matrices-based Electrolytes Containing Cobalt Compmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a first example of light-cured cobalt-based electrolyte, Bella et al embedded the [Co(bpy) 3 ] 3+/2+ mediator in UV-crosslinkable methacrylic oligomers bearing ethoxy chains [63]. In detail, bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate (BEMA, M n = 1700) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA, M n = 700) were mixed with the cobalt complex and a free-radical photoinitiator (Irgacure 1173).…”

Section: Polymeric Matrices-based Electrolytes Containing Cobalt Compmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this purpose, a viable alternative would be the in situ photopolymerization of polymer electrolytes incorporating the Co(II)/Co(III)-based mediator. Indeed, photopolymerization is the preparation technique closest to the industrial requirements for DSC manufacturing, since it does not require solvents, catalysts and purification/separation steps [63,67,[82][83][84].…”

Section: Polymeric Matrices-based Electrolytes Containing Cobalt Compmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cobalt-Based Electrolytes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Recent Advances towards Stable Devices

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Redox mediators based on cobalt complexes allowed dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) to achieve efficiencies exceeding 14%, thus challenging the emerging class of perovskite solar cells. Unfortunately, cobalt-based electrolytes demonstrate much lower long-term stability trends if compared to the traditional iodide/triiodide redox couple. In view of the large-scale commercialization of cobalt-based DSCs, the scientific community has recently proposed various approaches and materials to increase the stability of these devices, which comprise gelling agents, crosslinked polymeric matrices and mixtures of solvents (including water). This review summarizes the most significant advances recently focused towards this direction, also suggesting some intriguing way to fabricate third-generation cobalt-based photoelectrochemical devices stable over time.

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Direct light-induced polymerization of cobalt-based redox shuttles: an ultrafast way towards stable dye-sensitized solar cells

Cited by 83 publications

References 38 publications

Carbon-based materials for stable, cheaper and large-scale processable perovskite solar cells

Carbon-based materials for stable, cheaper and large-scale processable perovskite solar cells

Metal Coordination Complexes as Redox Mediators in Regenerative Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Cobalt-Based Electrolytes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Recent Advances towards Stable Devices

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