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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.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI

Challenges and advances in nanocomposite processing techniques

TL;DR: In this article, the results from numerous studies on various methods for manufacturing nanocomposites with improved properties and retained nanostructures are discussed in detail in detail and recent advances are discussed.
Journal ArticleDOI

A review on counter electrode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells

TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the materials in use as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells is presented, along with a conclusion and future prospects section, with a succinct summary.
Journal ArticleDOI

Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Catalytic Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Counter Electrodes

TL;DR: Defect-rich edge planes of bamboolike-structure multiwall CNTs facilitate the electron-transfer kinetics at the counter electrode-electrolyte interface, resulting in low charge-transfer resistance and an improved fill factor in a dye-sensitized solar cell.
Journal ArticleDOI

Luminescent metal complexes of d6, d8 and d10 transition metal centres

TL;DR: Through the systematic study on the variation of ligands, structural and bonding modes of different metal centres, the structure-property relationships of the various classes of luminescent transition metal complexes can be obtained and their electronic absorption and luminescence properties can be fine-tuned.
Journal ArticleDOI

Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes

TL;DR: In this paper, a new dye-sensitized solar cell architecture was proposed where high-energy photons are absorbed by highly photoluminescent chromophores unattached to the titania and undergo Forster resonant energy transfer to the sensitizing dye.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Electrochemical Photolysis of Water at a Semiconductor Electrode

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.
Journal ArticleDOI

Vectorial electron injection into transparent semiconductor membranes and electric field effects on the dynamics of light-induced charge separation

TL;DR: In this article, the dynamics of charge recombination following electron injection from the excited state of RuL{sub 3} into the conduction band of the semiconductor were examined under potentiostatic control of the electric field within the space charge layer of the membrane.
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

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.
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