Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) offer the possibilities to design solar cells with a large flexibility in shape, color, and transparency. DSC research groups have been established around the worl ...

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Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have attracted considerable attention in recent years as they offer the possibility of low-cost conversion of photovoltaic energy This Review focuses on recent advances in molecular design and technological aspects of metal-free organic dyes for applications in dye-sensitized solar cells Special attention has been paid to the design principles of these dyes and on the effect of various electrolyte systems Cosensitization, an emerging technique to extend the absorption range, is also discussed as a way to improve the performance of the device In addition, we report on inverted dyes for photocathodes, which constitutes a relatively new approach for the production of tandem cells Special consideration has been paid to the correlation between the molecular structure and physical properties to their performance in DSSCs

Metal-Free Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: From Structure: Property Relationships to Design Rules

Electrolytes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The performance of dye sensitized solar cells is mainly based on the dye as a sensitizer. Natural dyes have become a viable alternative to expensive and rare organic sensitizers because of its low cost, easy attainability, abundance in supply of raw materials and no environment threat. Various components of a plant such as the flower petals, leaves and bark have been tested as sensitizers. The nature of these pigments together with other parameters has resulted in varying performance. This review briefly discusses the emergence, operation and components of dye sensitized solar cells together with the work done on natural dye based dye sensitized solar cells over the years.

Review: Dye sensitized solar cells based on natural photosensitizers

In this review, we address the materials design parameters that control the processes of charge separation, and thereby device efficiency, in dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical solar cells. The review starts with an overview of the structure, energetics and kinetics of dye-sensitized solar cells. It then goes on to consider in more detail the parameters determining the efficiency of the two primary charge separation steps in these devices: electron injection from the dye excited state into the metal oxide electrode, and regeneration of the dye ground state by the redox electrolyte. We consider the kinetic competition between these desired charge separation steps and the undesired loss pathways of excited state decay to ground and electron recombination with dye cations. The review avoids detailed mathematical and spectroscopic discussion, but rather tries to summarize the key conclusions relevant to materials design. A recurring theme of the review is the energy cost of achieving charge separation, and h...

Electron Transfer Dynamics in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have aroused intense interest over the past decade owing to their low cost and simple preparation procedures. Much effort has been de- voted to the study of electrolytes that enable light-to-electrical power conversion for DSSC applications. This review focuses on recent progress in the field of liquid, solid-state, and quasi-solid-state electrolytes for DSSCs. It is believed that quasi-solid-state electrolytes, es- pecially those utilizing thermosetting gels, are particularly applicable for fabricating high photoelectric performance and long-term stability of DSSCs in practical applications.

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Progress on the electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Using poly(N-methyl-4-vinyl-pyridine iodide), N-methyl-pyridine iodide and iodine, a solid polymer electrolyte with conductivity of 6.41 mS/cm is prepared. On the basis of a solid polymer electrolyte, a conducting graphite layer, a KI block layer, and a vacuum assembling technique, we achieve an all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with total photoelectric conversion efficiency of 5.64% under AM 1.5 simulated solar light (100 mW/cm2) illumination.

An all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell-based poly(N-alkyl-4-vinyl-pyridine iodide) electrolyte with efficiency of 5.64%.

Influence of ionic additives NaI/I2 on the properties of polymer gel electrolyte and performance of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Using poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene) as polymer host, 1,2-propanediol carbonate, dimethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate as mixture solvent, N-methyl-quinoline iodide and iodine as the source of I−/I3−, a novel polymer gel electrolyte with ionic conductivity of 5.12 × 10−3 S· cm−1 at 25°C was prepared by sol-gel and hydrothermal methods. Based on the polymer gel electrolyte, a quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated. The solar cell possess better long-term stability and light-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of 4.04% under irradiation of 100 mW· cm−2. The influences of polymer host, solvent, N-methyl-quinoline iodide and temperature on ionic conductivity of the polymer gel electrolyte and the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell was discussed.

Pingjiang Li

Papers

Progress on the electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

An all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell-based poly(N-alkyl-4-vinyl-pyridine iodide) electrolyte with efficiency of 5.64%.

Influence of ionic additives NaI/I2 on the properties of polymer gel electrolyte and performance of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Preparation of a novel polymer gel electrolyte based on N -methyl-quinoline iodide and its application in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell