Review
Polymer Science
Yiyun Luo, Li Yang, Jinbao Zhang
Summary: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are a promising alternative photovoltaic technology with low cost and high performance for indoor applications. Solid-state DSCs (ssDSCs) have been developed to address the problems of electrolyte leakage and electrode corrosion. However, the power conversion efficiency of ssDSCs is generally lower than traditional liquid DSCs. To overcome these limitations, the authors have developed an in situ photoelectrochemical polymerization (PEP) approach to synthesize polymer hole transport materials (HTMs) in the porous electrodes, enhancing pore infiltration fraction and conductivity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of material engineering and interfacial optimization for ssDSCs, as well as recent advances in PEP and its impact on device performance.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
T. M. W. J. Bandara, H. M. N. Wickramasinghe, K. Wijayaratne, L. Ajith DeSilva, A. A. Perera
Summary: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been developed as a low-cost alternative for energy conversion devices, with a focus on reducing the use of expensive platinum. This study investigated new composite counter electrodes based on graphite and TiO2 nanoparticles, showing that the highest solar cell performance was achieved with an 80 wt% graphite and 20 wt% TiO2 composition.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Marriyam Sultana, Umer Mehmood, Rabia Nazar, Yasir Qayyum Gill
Summary: The research aims to develop stable dye-sensitized solar cells for powering IoT devices. The study investigates the effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyaniline nanocomposites on the ionic conductivity of electrolytes and the photovoltaic performance of solar cells. The optimized quasi-solid-state electrolyte with 4% MWCNTs/PANI and 0.5 g salt concentration exhibits a maximum efficiency of 2.7%.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kicheon Yoo, Ashok Kumar Kaliamurthy, Jae-Joon Lee, Min Jae Ko
Summary: The performance of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (qs-DSSCs) using Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Polyethylene glycol (PVP/PEG) blends was investigated over a wide temperature range. The PVP/PEG blend exhibited low glass-transition temperature and high ionic conductivity, leading to high power conversion efficiency (PCE) at both low and ambient temperatures. Additionally, the qs-DSSC with PVP/PEG showed excellent long-term stability.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ghada A. Abdelwahab, Mohamed A. Ismail, Ahmed A. Fadda, Mohamed R. Elmorsy
Summary: This study introduces five new bithienylnicotinonitrile-based organic dyes (coded GA-1-5) designed for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The researchers conducted a detailed analysis of the dyes' characteristics and found that they exhibit intense UV-vis absorption and high molar extinction coefficients, making them ideal for use in DSSCs. When tested, devices co-sensitized with the dyes showed significantly improved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) compared to DSSCs sensitized with N3 alone. These findings represent a significant advancement in solar cell technology, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable energy solutions.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Vidhya Selvanathan, Mohd Hafidz Ruslan, Ammar Ahmed Nasser Alkahtani, Nowshad Amin, Kamaruzzaman Sopian, Ghulam Muhammad, Md Akhtaruzzaman
Summary: The fabrication of quasi-solid polymer electrolytes based on esterified starch has shown promising results for applications in dye-sensitized solar cells. The chemical modification of potato starch via phthaloylation method, and the incorporation of propylene carbonate, dimethylformamide, and lithium iodide resulted in high ionic conductivity and efficiency in the biopolymer gel electrolyte. This research suggests a sustainable and cost-effective approach for developing quasi-solid-state DSSC with starch-based electrolytes.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jianfei Lin, Yinglin Wang, Yanan Li, Yuming Shi, Xin Guo, Lingling Wang, Yichun Liu, Xintong Zhang
Summary: By using a chemical cross-linking strategy, high-performance quasi-solid-state DSSCs based on copper have been successfully fabricated. This strategy effectively reduces the crystallinity of polymers inside the gel polymer electrolytes, improving the diffusion coefficient and enhancing the photovoltaic efficiency and open-circuit voltage of the cells.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tharmakularasa Rajaramanan, Fatemeh Heidari Gourji, Yogenthiran Elilan, Shivatharsiny Yohi, Meena Senthilnanthanan, Punniamoorthy Ravirajan, Dhayalan Velauthapillai
Summary: In this study, a natural dye from the flowers of Mussaenda erythrophylla was extracted separately in ethanol and de-ionized water and employed as a photosensitizer in DSSCs. The stability and adsorption of the dye on the P25-TiO2 surface were confirmed. The optical properties of the dye were studied with regard to dye concentration and pH. DSSCs fabricated with the dye extracted in ethanol showed the best power conversion efficiency due to the optimal absorption of light in the visible region.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shanmuganathan Venkatesan, Nguyen Huong Tra My, Hsisheng Teng, Yuh-Lang Lee
Summary: Thin films of solid-state polymer electrolytes (SSPEs) have been developed for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) for the first time. Gel-electrolytes are prepared by utilizing a blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) and an acetonitrile-based iodide liquid electrolyte, and then cast onto a glass substrate to fabricate solvent-free SSPEs by evaporating the solvent. The SSPE films are sandwiched between photoelectrodes and counter electrodes to assemble the solid-state DSCs, and the PCE can be improved by introducing TiO2 nanofillers in the SSPEs. The high stability of the solid-state DSCs is demonstrated with a retention of 98% of their original efficiency after a 700-hour test period.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
N. Mohsenzadegan, E. Nouri, M. R. Mohammadi
Summary: The improvement of photoconversion efficiency and operational stability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) under environmental conditions is a major challenge for commercialization. Two approaches, namely increasing light scattering via embedding mesoporous TiO2 beads and delaying electrolyte leakage using gel polymer electrolyte, were employed to address this challenge. The highest photoconversion efficiency of 9.8% was achieved for the photoanode based on mesoporous TiO2 beads in the presence of gel polymer electrolyte, demonstrating longer operational stability under realistic ambient conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shanmuganathan Venkatesan, Chia-Yi Chiang, Hsisheng Teng, Yuh-Lang Lee
Summary: A complete printing process was developed for the fabrication of monolithic quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (m-QS-DSSCs). The structures were constructed by printing TiO2 layers, a ZrO2 insulating layer, and a carbon counter electrode (CE) onto an FTO substrate, followed by printing a quasi-solid-state printable electrolyte (QS-PE) on top of the porous carbon CE. The optimized porous structures and characteristics of the ZrO2 and carbon layers enabled the m-QS-DSSCs to achieve an efficiency of 6.79% under 1 sun illumination.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Santhosh Kamaraj, Ganesan Shanmugam, Balamurugan Selvaraj, Eswaramoorthi Thirugnanasambandam, Mohanraj Kandhasamy
Summary: The study focused on enhancing the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs using co-sensitizers, specifically the use of bi-anchoring metal-free aromatic organic molecules as co-sensitizers. The results showed that the ACY organic co-sensitized device outperformed the NCY and PCY devices, achieving a maximum power conversion efficiency of 8.3%. The influences of the co-sensitizer on the electron injection process on TiO2 surface and the role it plays in altering the Quasi Fermi level were highlighted in the study.
ORGANIC ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sadia Yasmeen, Yasir Qayyum Gill, Rabia Nazar, Umer Mehmood, Faisal Iqbal, Hooriya Qaswar, Zeeshan Ahmed
Summary: Conductive polymer blend gel electrolytes improve the stability of dyesensitized solar cells by reducing leakage and enhancing electrode adhesion. In this study, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyaniline (PANI) blends were synthesized through in-situ polymerization and characterized using various methods. The optimal composition of the electrolyte solution was selected, and the conductivity was found to be influenced by salt concentration. Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells with gel electrolytes exhibited better long-term stability compared to conventional cells.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Laura Manceriu, Anil Kumar Bharwal, Nathan Daem, Jennifer Dewalque, Pierre Colson, Frederic Boschini, Rudi Cloots
Summary: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising solution for portable electronics and IoT applications due to their low-cost fabrication and high efficiency. However, the main obstacle to their large-scale exploitation is their limited long-term stability caused by liquid electrolytes. This review summarizes advances in alternative polymer electrolytes, with a focus on polysiloxane-based poly(ionic liquid)s, and evaluates their behavior in DSSCs. The assessment of printability for liquid and gel polymer electrolytes, particularly polysiloxane-based electrolytes, is also discussed.
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Philipp G. Gruetzmacher, Michael Schranz, Chia-Jui Hsu, Johannes Bernardi, Andreas Steiger-Thirsfeld, Lars Hensgen, Manel Rodriguez Ripoll, Carsten Gachot
Summary: The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PEB and PUB as sensitizers of dye-sensitized solar cells is investigated using first-principles calculations. Different adsorption models are constructed for PEB/PUB on the TiO2 surface, and their geometrical configurations and electronic properties are optimized. The obtained PCEs confirm the credibility of the current method and predict that PUB and PEB are promising candidate sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bingyu Lei, Neil Robertson
Summary: A new method for the immobilization of TiO2 mesocrystals has been developed in this study. The immobilized TiO2 possesses high dye pickup capability and optimal electron transport ability, making it suitable for dye-sensitized solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bingyu Lei, Lisette Warren, Carole Morrison, Gwilherm Kerherve, William S. J. Skinner, David J. Payne, Neil Robertson
Summary: Ammonium fluoroxotitanates, such as NH4TiOF3 and (NH4)2TiOF4, are considered as topotactic synthetic precursors of the functional semiconductor anatase TiO2. However, their properties and potential applications have not been thoroughly studied. In this work, NH4TiOF3 and (NH4)2TiOF4 were experimentally and computationally characterized, and their electronic structures were found to be consistent. Furthermore, immobilized NH4TiOF3 exhibited promising photocatalytic activity in UV dye degradation.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ying Yuan, Neil Robertson
Summary: Recent studies have focused on improving the efficiency of Ag3BiI6 solar cells, but most have overlooked cost-effectiveness and scalability. This study explores the feasibility of Ag3BiI6 in fully-printable triple-mesoscopic solar cells and investigates the effect of pre-treatment and post-treatment on their performance. The results show a potential for developing all inorganic Bi-based absorbers in printable solar cells.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yining Tao, Chenxu Yan, Yue Wu, Dan Li, Juan Li, Yuchen Xie, Yingsheng Cheng, Yisheng Xu, Kai Yang, Wei-Hong Zhu, Zhiqian Guo
Summary: A novel PDT-based nanotheranostic was developed for in vivo tracking and evaluation of photodynamic therapy. This dual-modal nanotheranostic integrates magnetic resonance imaging and chemiluminescence signals, providing detailed dose distribution and real-time evaluation of ROS generation. It overcomes the unpredictable challenges in PDT for oral tumor treatment.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuwei Wang, Jinghan Liao, Yanting Lyu, Qianqian Guo, Zhirong Zhu, Xupeng Wu, Jiahong Yu, Qi Wang, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: Aggregation induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers have gained significant attention in photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to their excellent performance. However, the therapeutic effect of AIE photosensitizers is often influenced by the biological microenvironment as it is challenging to generate both type I and type II reactive oxygen species (ROS) simultaneously. In this study, a novel electron-rich anion-pi(+) AIEgen Pys-QM-TT is introduced, which can efficiently produce type I and type II ROS and enable near-infrared fluorescence imaging concurrently. The rational design of the AIE photosensitizer incorporates a strong electron-donating triphenylamine unit, a pi-bridge thiophene, and an electron-withdrawing pyridinium salt unit to enhance D-pi-A behavior, thus improving intramolecular charge transfer and extending the wavelength. Moreover, the strong D-pi-A effect is believed to minimize increment ES-T and promote intersystem crossing processes, significantly enhancing ROS generation. Furthermore, the negatively charged anion in the pyridinium salt group provides an electron-rich environment, enabling efficient electron transfer for type I ROS generation. Consequently, Pys-QM-TT demonstrates the simultaneous production of type I and type II ROS with minimal dependence on the environmental conditions, effectively inhibiting bacterial infections, and ablating tumor tissue through the promotion of tumor cell apoptosis, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, and anti-angiogenesis.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huanxin Guo, Xiaoyu Wang, Chengjie Li, Honglong Hu, Huidong Zhang, Lijun Zhang, Wei-Hong Zhu, Yongzhen Wu
Summary: A supramolecular strategy involving surface anion complexation with Calix[4]pyrrole (C[4]P) is reported for enhancing the stability of perovskite solar cells. The C[4]P-stabilized perovskite films demonstrated increased light and thermal stability, and showed preservation of their morphology even after ageing at high temperatures and under humid conditions. The use of C[4]P resulted in significant improvement in the lifespan and efficiency of the perovskite solar cells.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bingyu Lei, Neil Robertson
Summary: The immobilised TiO2 mesocrystals were prepared on sanded glass substrates via a solution synthesis of immobilised precursor, followed by a thermal treatment triggering a topotactic conversion reaction. The obtained mesocrystals possessed anatase nanoparticles with high surface area and co-exposed {10 1}/{0 0 1} facets, as well as large overall particle size and strong binding to the substrate inherited from the immobilised precursor. These unique structural features make the material a promising candidate as a highly efficient and separable photocatalyst. The thermal treatment parameters were also shown to be crucial for adjusting the structural or surface properties and thus the photocatalytic performance of the immobilised TiO2 mesocrystals.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tijian Zhou, Li Li, Zhirong Zhu, Xiaoyan Chen, Qi Wang, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: The development of fluorogenic probes with ultrahigh contrast for detecting alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in human serum is important for clinical auxiliary diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases. However, incomplete ionization of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-based ALP fluorophores and autofluorescence interference of serum result in low sensitivity and accuracy. In this study, a difluoro-substituted dicyanomethylene-4H-chromenep-based enzyme-activatable near-infrared probe was developed, which showed a linear relationship between emission intensity and ALP concentration in both solution and serum samples, providing a potential tool for quantitatively detecting ALP and assessing the stage of hepatopathy.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xinshi Liang, Honglong Hu, Zhi-gang Zheng, Min He, Mengqi Li, Ning Lv, Ning Shen, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: A photoresponsive liquid crystal polymer (LCP) film is proposed by incorporating a polymerizable photoswitch into commercial LCP and exposing it to UV light. Photonic microstructures are written on the flexible LCP film using patterned light. A four-dimensional anti-counterfeiting flexible label is constructed with the assistance of the photoresponsive LCP film, featuring photochromism, fluorescence, embedded microstructures, and optical diffraction.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shuo Zhang, Fangyuan Ye, Xiaoyu Wang, Rui Chen, Huidong Zhang, Liqing Zhan, Xianyuan Jiang, Yawen Li, Xiaoyu Ji, Shuaijun Liu, Miaojie Yu, Furong Yu, Yilin Zhang, Ruihan Wu, Zonghao Liu, Zhijun Ning, Dieter Neher, Liyuan Han, Yuze Lin, He Tian, Wei Chen, Martin Stolterfoht, Lijun Zhang, Wei-Hong Zhu, Yongzhen Wu
Summary: In this study, an amphiphilic molecular hole transporter with a multifunctional cyanovinyl phosphonic acid group was used to deposit a superwetting underlayer for perovskite deposition. This enabled the formation of high-quality perovskite films with minimized defects at the buried interface. The resulting perovskite film showed excellent photoluminescence properties and achieved a certified PCE of 25.4%, demonstrating its potential for application in solar cells.
Article
Electrochemistry
Franziska Bossl, Valentin C. Menzel, Karina Jeronimo, Ayushi Arora, Yishu Zhang, Tim P. Comyn, Peter Cowin, Caroline Kirk, Neil Robertson, Ignacio Tudela
Summary: The present study aims to explore the controversial debate on the "true" mechanism behind piezo-electrocatalysis, whether it is energy band theory or screening charge effects. For this purpose, piezo-electrocatalysts made of three different materials, ZnO, BaTiO3, and BF-KBT-PT, with different energy band levels and piezoelectric properties, were used to degrade Rhodamine B in aqueous solutions using combined ultrasound and mechanical agitation as the excitation method. The results suggest that both mechanisms may play an important role in the overall process, as the piezo-electrocatalyst most likely to generate radicals via both piezo-electrocatalytic mechanisms achieved the highest overall dye degradation.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue Wu, Mengqi Li, Zhi-gang Zheng, Zhen-Qiang Yu, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is a phenomenon that can carry extensive optical information and provide an extra dimension of information compared to regular light. Chiral liquid crystal (LC) assemblies, known as cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs), are highly ordered one-dimensional structures that can achieve molecule-scale chirality on a helical pitch. This makes LC assembly an ideal strategy for amplifying chirality and enabling ultra-dissymmetric CPL. This perspective discusses the generation, transmission, and modulation of CPL using chiral LC assembly, aiming to design and develop novel chiroptical materials. Recent applications of CPL-active LC microstructures in three-dimensional displays, circularly polarized lasers, and asymmetric catalysis are also highlighted.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaomeng Guo, Mengqi Li, Honglong Hu, Ting Xu, Hancheng Xi, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: In this study, a series of dynamic chiral photoswitches based on supramolecular metallacages were successfully prepared, achieving a high photoconversion yield of 91.3% in nanosized cavities. The chiral inequality phenomenon was observed in the metallacages, and a dynamic chiral system was established at the supramolecular level, featuring chiral transfer, amplification, induction, and manipulation. This study provides an intriguing idea to simplify and understand chiral science.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ellie Tanaka, Gyu Min Kim, Michal R. Maciejczyk, Ayumi Ishii, Gary S. Nichol, Tsutomu Miyasaka, Neil Robertson
Summary: Hole transport materials (HTMs) based on truxene cores have shown promising properties as candidates for use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, a novel HTM named TrxS-2MeOTAD was synthesized and characterized for its suitability in n-i-p planar PSCs. The TrxS-2MeOTAD showed suitable properties and achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.9% in the PSCs.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qingshuang Xu, Yutao Zhang, Mingming Zhu, Chenxu Yan, Wenle Mao, Wei-Hong Zhu, Zhiqian Guo
Summary: An ongoing revolution in fluorescence-based technologies has led to the development of high-performance fluorogenic scaffolds for in vivo analysis, particularly for small-molecular near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores. A unique bent-to-planar rehybridization design strategy has been utilized to create a range of switchable bent/planar Si-rhodamines with varying wavelengths. By using elaborately lighting-up NIR-II probes, real-time monitoring of biological events in live cells, zebrafish, and mice has been successfully achieved, including the tracking of nitric oxide (NO) fluctuations in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease. This innovative strategy opens up exciting possibilities for in vivo imaging in both research and clinical applications.
