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Journal ArticleDOI

A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films

24 Oct 1991-Nature (Nature Publishing Group)-Vol. 353, Iss: 6346, pp 737-740
TL;DR: 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.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
02 Nov 2012-Science
TL;DR: A low-cost, solution-processable solar cell, based on a highly crystalline perovskite absorber with intense visible to near-infrared absorptivity, that has a power conversion efficiency of 10.9% in a single-junction device under simulated full sunlight is reported.
Abstract: The energy costs associated with separating tightly bound excitons (photoinduced electron-hole pairs) and extracting free charges from highly disordered low-mobility networks represent fundamental losses for many low-cost photovoltaic technologies. We report a low-cost, solution-processable solar cell, based on a highly crystalline perovskite absorber with intense visible to near-infrared absorptivity, that has a power conversion efficiency of 10.9% in a single-junction device under simulated full sunlight. This "meso-superstructured solar cell" exhibits exceptionally few fundamental energy losses; it can generate open-circuit photovoltages of more than 1.1 volts, despite the relatively narrow absorber band gap of 1.55 electron volts. The functionality arises from the use of mesoporous alumina as an inert scaffold that structures the absorber and forces electrons to reside in and be transported through the perovskite.

9,158 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) offer the possibilities to design solar cells with a large flexibility in shape, color, and transparency as mentioned in this paper, and many DSC research groups have been established around the world.
Abstract: 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 ...

8,707 citations


Cites background from "A low-cost, high-efficiency solar c..."

  • ...At present, there is a considerable effort being devoted to DSSC with nanoporous photoanodes [9,56]....

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  • ...[8,9]....

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  • ...1% [9], comparable with the amorphous Si cells [11]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
18 Oct 2013-Science
TL;DR: In this article, transient absorption and photoluminescence-quenching measurements were performed to determine the electron-hole diffusion lengths, diffusion constants, and lifetimes in mixed halide and triiodide perovskite absorbers.
Abstract: Organic-inorganic perovskites have shown promise as high-performance absorbers in solar cells, first as a coating on a mesoporous metal oxide scaffold and more recently as a solid layer in planar heterojunction architectures. Here, we report transient absorption and photoluminescence-quenching measurements to determine the electron-hole diffusion lengths, diffusion constants, and lifetimes in mixed halide (CH3NH3PbI(3-x)Cl(x)) and triiodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite absorbers. We found that the diffusion lengths are greater than 1 micrometer in the mixed halide perovskite, which is an order of magnitude greater than the absorption depth. In contrast, the triiodide absorber has electron-hole diffusion lengths of ~100 nanometers. These results justify the high efficiency of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells and identify a critical parameter to optimize for future perovskite absorber development.

8,199 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
Ulrike Diebold1
TL;DR: Titanium dioxide is the most investigated single-crystalline system in the surface science of metal oxides, and the literature on rutile (1.1) and anatase surfaces is reviewed in this paper.

7,056 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the dye-sensitized photocurrents generated from the electrochemical systems have been studied and the action spectra for the photocurrent, its dependence on the concentration of the dye solution and other experimental results have revealed that photocurrent is caused by the dye adsorbed on the electrode, not from that dissolved in the liquid phase.
Abstract: The dye-sensitized photocurrents generated from the electrochemical systems have been studied The action spectra for the photocurrent, its dependence on the concentration of the dye solution and other experimental results have revealed that the photocurrent is caused by the dye adsorbed on the electrode, not from that dissolved in the liquid phase From the analysis of the decay of the photocurrent with the time of illumination, the quantum yield for the electron injection from the excited dye has been determined Rose Bengal showed the quantum yield of 22% The influence of halide ions on the photocurrent has also been studied

91 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Fluorescence decay of adsorbed cresyl violet molecules was measured on n-SnS{sub 2} electrodes where their stationary photoelectrochemical current approached the yield of one electron per absorbed photon as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Fluorescence decay of adsorbed cresyl violet molecules was measured on n-SnS{sub 2} electrodes where their stationary photoelectrochemical current approached the yield of one electron per absorbed photon. At very low coverage, {theta} {approx} 10{sup {minus}2}, the fluorescence decay was faster than 10 ps and was identified with electron injection from excited dye monomers into the wide conduction band of the semiconductor. The reaction path was adiabatic or at least borderline to the adiabatic case. The measurement provides a time scale for Gerischer's distribution curves that are commonly applied in the discussion of electron-transfer reactions at electrodes.

68 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1987-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, surface modification procedures for photo-electrochemical cells have been reported to produce the most efficient photo-chemical cell reported to date, and experiments indicate that the current-voltage improvements in this system are accompanied by increased interfacial hole transfer rates at the GaAs/liquid interface.
Abstract: The minimization of interfacial recombination losses is a key factor in the operation of any semiconductor-based solar-energy-conversion device, including solid-state junctions, semiconductor/liquid junctions and colloidal suspensions of semiconductors. A frequently cited advantage of semiconductor/liquid junctions is the ability to manipulate surface recombination rates by chemical reactions1–7. A notable example is the improvement in current–voltage properties of n-GaAs photoanodes which have been exposed to aqueous solutions of Ru3+ ions8–10. Here we report new surface-modification procedures for GaAs which have produced the most efficient photoelectrochemical cell reported to date. We also report experiments which indicate that the current–voltage improvements in this system are accompanied by increased interfacial hole transfer rates at the GaAs/liquid interface.

55 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1981
TL;DR: In this article, the photoresponse of stable electrochemical cells can be extended into the visible region (400-600 nm) using hydroquinone as supersensitizer.
Abstract: 2014 Semiconducting ZnO ceramic electrodes have been sensitized by Rhodamine B and Ru (II) complex dyes. The photoresponse of the stable electrochemical cells can thus be extended into the visible region (400-600 nm) using hydroquinone as supersensitizer. Open circuit voltage of 0.4 V and short circuit currents up to 0.2 mA can be obtained with photons of hv Egap of semiconductor. Revue Phys. Appl. 16 (1981) 5-10 JANVIER 198I,

43 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
22 Apr 1987-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, an analysis of selected images (0.54-0.60 arc s FWHM (full width at half maximum) indicates that there is no significant difference between the apparent widths of the M87 core and the stars and that the true core width appears to be definitely <0.3 arc s and probably < 0.20 arc s.
Abstract: The nature of the centre of the elliptical galaxy M87 is still a matter of controversy. To obtain improved spatial resolution we have recorded alternately a number of short-exposure images of the M87 core and several comparison stars with an ISIT camera at the AMOS 1.6-m telescope at Haleakala, Maui. An analysis of selected images (0.54–0.60 arc s FWHM (full width at half maximum)) indicates that there is no significant difference between the apparent widths of the M87 core and the stars. The true core width appears to be definitely <0.3 arc s and probably <0.20 arc s. Thus, we do not observe a hypothetical stellar cusp created by the potential of a massive black hole.

5 citations