Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ana Belen Munoz-Garcia, Iacopo Benesperi, Gerrit Boschloo, Javier J. Concepcion, Jared H. Delcamp, Elizabeth A. Gibson, Gerald J. Meyer, Michele Pavone, Henrik Pettersson, Anders Hagfeldt, Marina Freitag
Summary: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) and dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPECs) have seen a revival in recent years as they offer unique properties such as low cost, non-toxic materials, colorfulness, transparency, and efficiency in low light conditions. This review covers advancements in DSC technology over the past decade, including theoretical studies, characterization techniques, materials, applications, and commercialization efforts by various companies.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sanjay Kumar Swami, Neetesh Kumar, Daniela R. Radu, Sung Woon Cho, Jongsu Lee
Summary: In this study, a post-lithium (Li) treatment on TiO2 films was performed to enhance the optoelectronic features and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The Li treatment reduced defects and improved the crystallinity of the TiO2 films. DSSCs fabricated using Li-treated TiO2 films as photoanodes showed a performance improvement of approximately 20% and a PCE of 10.5%, compared to the control DSSC with a PCE of 8.7%. The enhanced performance was attributed to improved structural properties, efficient charge transport, and suppression of recombination due to the passivation of trap states.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suraya Shaban, Ajendra K. Vats, Shyam S. Pandey
Summary: Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (BF-DSSCs) were fabricated using dye cocktails of Z-907 and SQ-140, which have complementary light absorption properties. The Z-907 dye showed slower adsorption and stronger binding on mesoporous TiO2 compared to SQ-140. By controlling the ratio of dyes and adsorption time, a dye bilayer structure was formed favorably with a 9:1 molar ratio. BF-DSSCs with this structure exhibited PCEs of 4.23% and 3.48% under front and rear side light illuminations, with a cumulated PCE of 7.71% and a high bifaciality factor of 83%.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sultana Rahman, Abdul Haleem, Muhammad Siddiq, Muhammad Khalid Hussain, Samina Qamar, Safia Hameed, Muhammad Waris
Summary: The financial progress of a country depends heavily on the energy sector, which is crucial for the growth and development of various industries. The use of renewable resources is essential to overcome the energy crisis and reduce the negative impact of hydrocarbon fuels on the environment. This review focuses on the dyes used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and discusses the progress in both inorganic and natural dyes.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fengjuan Miao, Fuchen Chu, Bingcheng Sun, Bairui Tao, Peng Zhang, Yu Zang, Paul K. Chu
Summary: This study presents the design and fabrication of a photoanode composed of Au/SnS/TiO2 sensitized with natural dye for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By calcination, a layer of spherical nano-TiO2 is prepared, and a layer of nano-SnS is deposited on the TiO2 photoanode using the continuous ion layer adsorption reaction (SILAR). The sensitized Au nanoparticles exhibit enhanced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects and electron trapping ability, resulting in improved electron mobility and reduced electron recombination in the DSSC.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Muhammad Ahsan Saeed, Kicheon Yoo, Hyeong Cheol Kang, Jae Won Shim, Jae-Joon Lee
Summary: Dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells (DSPVs) show great potential for indoor photovoltaic applications due to their exceptional light-harvesting capability and stable performance under ambient illumination conditions, achieving record-high power-conversion efficiency of over 30%.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Mehdi Ismail, Celine Olivier, Thierry Toupance
Summary: Anatase TiO2 photoanodes were modified with hydrothermally synthesized WO3 nanorods for DSSC applications. Two configurations were investigated, where the addition of WO3 nanorods in the TiO2 matrix showed better performance for front illumination, while the undercoat of WO3 nanorods on FTO substrate showed better performance for back illumination. The excellent electron mobility and specific nanorod shape of WO3 contributed to charge trapping and injection, reducing recombination and dark current, while the scattering nature of the WO3 nanorods undercoat was beneficial for light harvesting.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mahyar Mohammadnezhad, Gurpreet Singh Selopal, Ozge Cavuslar, David Barba, Emek G. Durmusoglu, Havva Yagci Acar, Zhming M. Wang, Gregory P. Lopinski, Barry Stansfield, Haiguang Zhao, Federico Rosei
Summary: The study presents a method to enhance the performance of DSSCs by preparing a nanocomposite of functional gold nanoparticles and multiwall carbon nanotubes, which are embedded in mesoporous TiO2 films as photoanodes. The use of this nanocomposite resulted in a significant improvement in power conversion efficiency and short-circuit photocurrent density compared to control cells based on TiO2 alone. Additionally, DSSCs utilizing the TiO2/AuNP/MWCNT photoanode exhibited remarkable stability, retaining 92% of the initial power conversion efficiency value after continuous illumination for ten days.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chaoqiang Liao, Kaiwen Zeng, Hanlun Wu, Qingliang Zeng, Hao Tang, Lingyun Wang, Herbert Meier, Yongshu Xie, Derong Cao
Summary: The use of pillar[5]arene dyes can enhance the open-circuit voltage of DSSCs, while also inhibiting dye aggregation and charge recombination, leading to improved performance. Additionally, host-guest interactions with the electrolyte can further adjust the voltage and photocurrent of the DSSCs.
CELL REPORTS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zakaria Bouzid, Yasmine Halimi
Summary: The aim of this study was to realize and characterize Gratzel cells based on a natural dye sensitizer. The eucalyptus globulus extract was used as a photosensitizer and the dye was isolated from eucalyptus leaves using ethanol and acetic acid as solvents. The best-performing components were selected for the assembly of the dye-sensitized solar cells. The highest performance was achieved with the eucalyptus dye used on the diluted TiO2 layer, suggesting its potential for improving the efficiency of DSSCs.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Babar Suraj Shivaji, T. Swetha, T. Gayathri, Surya Prakash Singh
Summary: In this study, three new aza-dipyrrinato ruthenium sensitizers were synthesized and their effect on the photo-physical and electrochemical properties was investigated. The aza-dipyrrinato ligand showed enhanced light-harvesting capability and red-shift in absorption, making it a potential sensitizer candidate for dye-sensitized solar cells.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Xiaojie Yang, Liwei Cai, Li Zhao, Zuhong Li, Congcong Wu, Junmei Sun, Zihui Liang, Shimin Wang
Summary: By synthesizing graphene oxide, upconversion luminescent material, and porous hollow titanium dioxide microspheres to couple with commercial P25, the light-harvesting and photoelectric performance of dye sensitized solar cells can be improved, with the power conversion efficiency reaching as high as 9.41% using the optimized photoanode structure.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Karuppanapillai Baskardurai Bhojanaa, Jailani Javith Mohammed, Manivannan Manishvarun, Alagarsamy Pandikumar
Summary: In order to protect plasmonic nanoparticles, researchers have developed a layer-by-layer assembly of TiO2/Ag/TiO2 plasmonic photoelectrode and fabricated it into dye-sensitized solar cells. Compared to a pristine TiO2 photoanode-based DSSC, the champion cell exhibited a 65% enhancement in power conversion efficiency under AM 1.5 G irradiation. The improved efficiency can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles and the formation of TiO2 by TiCl4 treatment, which not only protects the Ag nanoparticles but also creates more dye-loading sites.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Abdulraheem S. A. Almalki, Abdel Ghany F. Shoair, Ali Badawi, Ateyyah M. Al-Baradi, A. A. Atta, Saud A. Algarni, Mohamed E. Khalifa, Sulaiman Y. M. Alfaifi
Summary: The open-circuit voltage of dye-sensitized solar cells was enhanced using modified ruthenium dyes, with Ru-D1 achieving a 23% enhancement in V-oc compared to unmodified dyes. The power conversion efficiency for Ru-D1 and Ru-D2 were 1.46% and 1.13% respectively, demonstrating the potential of modified ruthenium dyes in DSSCs applications.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mulugeta Tesema Efa, Jheng-Chang Huang, Toyoko Imae
Summary: This study reports on enhancing the performance of DSSCs through the use of cascade FRET phenomenon, including the use of composites with carbon dot (Cdot) to increase the power conversion efficiency. Utilizing a photosensitized system based on cascade FRET can enhance the light-harvesting properties of DSSCs.
