Journal ArticleDOI
A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films
TLDR
In this article, the authors describe a photovoltaic cell, created from low-to medium-purity materials through low-cost processes, which exhibits a commercially realistic energy-conversion efficiency.Abstract:
THE large-scale use of photovoltaic devices for electricity generation is prohibitively expensive at present: generation from existing commercial devices costs about ten times more than conventional methods1. Here we describe a photovoltaic cell, created from low-to medium-purity materials through low-cost processes, which exhibits a commercially realistic energy-conversion efficiency. The device is based on a 10-µm-thick, optically transparent film of titanium dioxide particles a few nanometres in size, coated with a monolayer of a charge-transfer dye to sensitize the film for light harvesting. Because of the high surface area of the semiconductor film and the ideal spectral characteristics of the dye, the device harvests a high proportion of the incident solar energy flux (46%) and shows exceptionally high efficiencies for the conversion of incident photons to electrical current (more than 80%). The overall light-to-electric energy conversion yield is 7.1-7.9% in simulated solar light and 12% in diffuse daylight. The large current densities (greater than 12 mA cm-2) and exceptional stability (sustaining at least five million turnovers without decomposition), as well as the low cost, make practical applications feasible.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Improvement of dye-sensitized solar cells: what we know and what we need to know
TL;DR: In this paper, the factors that affect charge recombination and electron injection efficiency systematically discussed in order to formulate basic guidelines and strategies for improving open circuit voltage and the overall performance of DSCs is reviewed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Photochemical Activity of Nitrogen-Doped Rutile TiO2(110) in Visible Light
TL;DR: In this paper, a co-doping effect between nitrogen and hydrogen is postulated to be responsible for the enhanced photoactivity of nitrogen-doped TiO2 materials in the range of visible light.
Journal ArticleDOI
Crystal faces of rutile and anatase TiO2 particles and their roles in photocatalytic reactions
TL;DR: In this article, a titanium dioxide powder consisting of 1 μm size rutile and anatase particles was obtained, on which developed crystal faces were observed by a scanning electron microscope.
Journal ArticleDOI
Polymer-based solar cells
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss polymer-based solar cells, paying particular attention to device design and potential improvements, and propose a solution-to-roll approach to solve the problem of low exciton diffusion lengths and low mobilities.
Journal ArticleDOI
Advancing beyond current generation dye-sensitized solar cells
Thomas W. Hamann,Thomas W. Hamann,Rebecca A. Jensen,Alex B. F. Martinson,Hal Van Ryswyk,Hal Van Ryswyk,Joseph T. Hupp +6 more
TL;DR: The most efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have had essentially the same configuration (nanoparticle TiO2 sensitized with [Ru(4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine)2(NCS)2] in contact with I3−/I−) for the last 17 years as discussed by the authors.
References
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Electrochemical Photolysis of Water at a Semiconductor Electrode
Akira Fujishima,Kenichi Honda +1 more
TL;DR: Water photolysis is investigated by exploiting the fact that water is transparent to visible light and cannot be decomposed directly, but only by radiation with wavelengths shorter than 190 nm.
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Ru(II) polypyridine complexes: photophysics, photochemistry, eletrochemistry, and chemiluminescence
Alberto Juris,Vincenzo Balzani,F. Barigelletti,Sebastiano Campagna,Peter Belser,A. Von Zelewsky +5 more
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Vectorial electron injection into transparent semiconductor membranes and electric field effects on the dynamics of light-induced charge separation
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Journal ArticleDOI
The impact of semiconductors on the concepts of electrochemistry
TL;DR: In this article, it was realized that semiconductor electrodes behave differently in many respects and offer new insights into the role played by the electronic properties of a solid in its electrochemical reactivity.
Journal ArticleDOI
Electrochemistry and photochemistry of MoS2 layer crystals. I
H. Tributsch,J.C. Bennett +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, the chemical and photochemical behavior of MoS 2 -van der Waals surfaces in contact with an aqueous electrolyte has been investigated by means of electrochemical techniques.