Highly efficient photocathodes for dye-sensitized tandem solar cells
TL;DR: It is shown for the first time that p-DSCs can convert absorbed photons to electrons with yields of up to 96%, resulting in a sevenfold increase in energy conversion efficiency compared with previously reported photocathodes.
Abstract: Thin-film dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on mesoporous semiconductor electrodes are low-cost alternatives to conventional silicon devices. High-efficiency DSCs typically operate as photoanodes (n-DSCs), where photocurrents result from dye-sensitized electron injection into n-type semiconductors. Dye-sensitized photocathodes (p-DSCs) operate in an inverse mode, where dye-excitation is followed by rapid electron transfer from a p-type semiconductor to the dye (dye-sensitized hole injection). Such p-DSCs and n-DSCs can be combined to construct tandem solar cells (pn-DSCs) with a theoretical efficiency limitation well beyond that of single-junction DSCs (ref. 4). Nevertheless, the efficiencies of such tandem pn-DSCs have so far been hampered by the poor performance of the available p-DSCs (refs 3, 5-15). Here we show for the first time that p-DSCs can convert absorbed photons to electrons with yields of up to 96%, resulting in a sevenfold increase in energy conversion efficiency compared with previously reported photocathodes. The donor-acceptor dyes, studied as photocathodic sensitizers, comprise a variable-length oligothiophene bridge, which provides control over the spatial separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. As a result, charge recombination is decelerated by several orders of magnitude and tandem pn-DSCs can be constructed that exceed the efficiency of their individual components.
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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
TL;DR: A molecularly engineered porphyrin dye is reported, coded SM315, which features the prototypical structure of a donor-π-bridge-acceptor and both maximizes electrolyte compatibility and improves light-harvesting properties.
Abstract: A dye that both maximizes electrolyte compatibility and improves light-harvesting properties has been designed for dye-sensitized solar cells. In cells based on the cobalt(II)/(III) redox mediator, use of the dye resulted in a power-conversion efficiency of 13%, revealing the great potential of porphyrin dyes for future solar cell applications.
3,940 citations
TL;DR: A universal energy-alignment trend is observed for a set of transition-metal oxides--representing a broad diversity in electronic properties--with several organic semiconductors, demonstrating that, despite the variance in their electronic properties, oxide energy alignment is governed by one driving force: electron-chemical-potential equilibration.
Abstract: Transition-metal oxides improve power conversion efficiencies in organic photovoltaics and are used as low-resistance contacts in organic light-emitting diodes and organic thin-film transistors. What makes metal oxides useful in these technologies is the fact that their chemical and electronic properties can be tuned to enable charge exchange with a wide variety of organic molecules. Although it is known that charge exchange relies on the alignment of donor and acceptor energy levels, the mechanism for level alignment remains under debate. Here, we conclusively establish the principle of energy alignment between oxides and molecules. We observe a universal energy-alignment trend for a set of transition-metal oxides--representing a broad diversity in electronic properties--with several organic semiconductors. The trend demonstrates that, despite the variance in their electronic properties, oxide energy alignment is governed by one driving force: electron-chemical-potential equilibration. Using a combination of simple thermodynamics, electrostatics and Fermi statistics we derive a mathematical relation that describes the alignment.
865 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review examines advanced techniques and research trends of dye-sensitized solar cells from the perspective of device modeling, state-of-the-art techniques, and novel device structures.
Abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) offers an efficient and easily implemented technology for future energy supply. Compared to conventional silicon solar cells, it provides comparable power conversion efficiency (PCE) at low material and manufacturing costs. DSSC materials such as titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) are inexpensive, abundant and innocuous to the environment. Since DSSC materials are less prone to contamination and processable at ambient temperature, a roll-to-roll process could be utilized to print DSSCs on the mass production line. DSSCs perform better under lower light intensities, which makes them an excellent choice for indoor applications. Due to the advancement of molecular engineering, colored and transparent thin films have been introduced to enhance the aesthetic values. Up to now, such benefits have attracted considerable research interests and commercialization effort. Here, this review examines advanced techniques and research trends of this promising technology from the perspective of device modeling, state-of-art techniques, and novel device structures.
831 citations
TL;DR: The relationship between the photovoltaic performance and the structure of perylene imides is discussed and perylene imides-based copolymers or oligomers play an important role in single junction devices.
Abstract: Perylene imides have been an object of research for 100 years and their derivatives are key n-type semiconductors in the field of organic electronics. While perylene diimides have been applied in many electronic and photonic devices, their use can be traced back to the first efficient organic solar cell. By functionalizing different positions of the in total 12 positions (four peri, four bay, and four ortho-positions) on the perylene core, perylene imides with significantly different optical, electronic and morphological properties may be prepared. Perylene imides and their derivatives have been used in several types of organic photovoltaics, including flat-, and bulk-heterojunction devices as well as dye-sensitized solar cells. Additionally perylene imides-based copolymers or oligomers play an important role in single junction devices. In this review, the relationship between the photovoltaic performance and the structure of perylene imides is discussed.
794 citations
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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.
26,457 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors look into the historical background, and present status and development prospects for photoelectrochemical cells, based on nanocrystalline materials and conducting polymer films.
Abstract: Until now, photovoltaics - the conversion of sunlight to electrical power - has been dominated by solid-state junction devices, often made of silicon. But this dominance is now being challenged by the emergence of a new generation of photovoltaic cells, based, for example, on nanocrystalline materials and conducting polymer films. These offer the prospect of cheap fabrication together with other attractive features, such as flexibility. The phenomenal recent progress in fabricating and characterizing nanocrystalline materials has opened up whole new vistas of opportunity. Contrary to expectation, some of the new devices have strikingly high conversion efficiencies, which compete with those of conventional devices. Here I look into the historical background, and present status and development prospects for this new generation of photoelectrochemical cells.
8,305 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a fabrication technique for dye-sensitized solar cells having a conversion efficiency of global air mass 1.5, 1000 W/m(2) solar light to electric power over 10%.
1,747 citations
"Highly efficient photocathodes for ..." refers methods in this paper
...Dye-sensitized p-DSCs, n-DSCs and tandem pn-DSCs were assembled as described elsewher...
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TL;DR: In this article, the maximum efficiency of ideal solar cells for both single and multiple energy gap cells using a standard air mass 1.5 terrestrial solar spectrum was calculated using a simple graphical method, which clearly exhibits the contributions of various intrinsic losses.
Abstract: The maximum efficiencies of ideal solar cells are calculated for both single and multiple energy gap cells using a standard air mass 1.5 terrestrial solar spectrum. The calculations of efficiency are made by a simple graphical method, which clearly exhibits the contributions of the various intrinsic losses. The maximum efficiency, at a concentration of 1 sun, is 31%. At a concentration of 1000 suns with the cell at 300 K, the maximum efficiencies are 37, 50, 56, and 72% for cells with 1, 2, 3, and 36 energy gaps, respectively. The value of 72% is less than the limit of 93% imposed by thermodynamics for the conversion of direct solar radiation into work. Ideal multiple energy gap solar cells fall below the thermodynamic limit because of emission of light from the forward‐biased p‐n junctions. The light is radiated at all angles and causes an entropy increase as well as an energy loss.
1,011 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the photocurrent−voltage (IV) characteristics of the plain NiO electrode recorded potentiostatically in a standard three-electrode setup upon UV illumination demonstrate p-type behavior, while the IV characteristics of a dye-sensitized nanostructured NiO electrodes coated with erythrosin B show cathodic photocurrent under visible light illumination.
Abstract: Nanostructured NiO film was prepared by depositing nickel hydroxide slurry on conducting glass and sintering at 500 °C to a thickness of about 1 μm. The photocurrent−voltage (IV) characteristics of the plain nanostructured NiO electrode recorded potentiostatically in a standard three-electrode setup upon UV illumination demonstrate p-type behavior, while the IV characteristics of a dye-sensitized nanostructured NiO electrode coated with erythrosin B show cathodic photocurrent under visible light illumination. The highest incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies of tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TPPC) and erythrosin B-coated NiO films were 0.24% and 3.44%, respectively. In sandwich solar cells with a platinized conducting glass as counter electrode exposed to light from a sun simulator (light intensity: 68 mW/cm2), a short-circuit cathodic photocurrent density (ISC) of 0.079 mA/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 98.5 mV for TPPC-coated NiO electrode were achieved. Similarly, ISC = 0.2...
497 citations
"Highly efficient photocathodes for ..." refers background in this paper
...Such p-DSCs and n-DSCs can be combined to construct tandem solar cell...
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