Recent Developments in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

The knowledge of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) has expanded considerably in recent years. They are multiparameter and complex systems that work only if various parameters are tuned simultaneously. This makes it difficult to target to a single parameter to improve the efficiency. There is a wealth of knowledge concerning different DSC structures and characteristics. In this review, the present knowledge and recent achievements are surveyed with emphasis on the more promising cell materials and designs.

Photophysical Processes Occurring in a Zn-phthalocyanine in Ethanol Solution and on TiO2 Nanostructures

“…9 Furthermore, the chemical tunability through substituent addition on the periphery of the macrocycle allows to prevent the aggregation 9,11,12,17 , which would be favoured by the more extended π-conjugation with respect to porphyrins 12 . However, the control over the formation of 4 aggregates remains an open problem, and the photochemical activity of these compounds is still unsatisfactory, despite the remarkable improvement obtained in the last years. Indeed, many research groups have tested the overall cell performances by means of different substituted ZnPc dyads, reaching incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) above 80% 12,17-20 and power conversion yields between 3 % and 4.6 % under "one sun" irradiation.…”

Microwave assisted synthesis of high surface area TiO 2 aerogels: A competent photoanode material for quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cells

“…Because in DSSCs the light absorption and electron transport processes are separately done by the association of dye molecules with a nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), unlike conventional p-n junction solar cells [4][5][6]. Hence, DSSC offers flexibility in the choice of materials and that greatly reduces the cost compared to silicon-based solar cells [7]. Though wide band gap semiconductors like TiO 2 , ZnO, SnO 2 and Nb 2 O 5 are recognized as photoanode materials for DSSC, mesoporous TiO 2 received much attention due to excellent optical and electronic properties and good chemical and thermal stabilities [8][9][10][11].…”

Electrodes/Electrolyte Interfaces in the Presence of a Surface‐Modified Photopolymer Electrolyte: Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

“…[3] For the above reasons, among the emerging photovoltaic technologies, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are regarded as an interesting alternative to crystalline silicon cells, being characterized by a low production cost and a relatively high conversion efficiency. [4] In the classic configuration, a DSSC is made up of a photoanode (front electrode), a counter electrode, and a liquid electrolyte solution.…”