Review
Chemistry, Physical
Afsaneh Farokhi, Hashem Shahroosvand, Fatemeh Zisti, Melanie Pilkington, Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin
Summary: This comprehensive review focuses on the application of triphenylamines (TPAs), a prominent class of organic molecules, in dye-sensitized/organic solar cells. By exploring synthesis strategies for TPA derivatives, researchers have successfully improved the power conversion efficiencies of the cells and provided strong support for future commercial applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Anil Reddy Marri, Heather Flint, Elizabeth A. Gibson, John Fielden
Summary: Three new thiophenyl bridged triarylamine-donor based dyes with pyridyl anchoring groups and indolium acceptors have been synthesized and studied. Phenylpyridyl anchored bis-indolium showed the best performance.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Dheeraj Devadiga, Muthu Selvakumar, Prakasha Shetty, Mysore Sridhar Santosh, Raghu Subash Chandrabose, Smagul Karazhanov
Summary: In the context of increasing population, the importance of renewable and sustainable energy alternatives is emphasized. Scientists are focusing on producing cost-effective and high-performance clean energy appliances to meet the growing demand. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are highlighted as a leading material in modern solar cell technologies, with metal-free organic dyes like carbazole (CZ), triphenylamine (TPA), and phenothiazine (PTZ) derivatives being identified as suitable alternatives to traditional complexes. This review primarily discusses the latest developments in using CZ, TPA, and PTZ scaffolds for DSSC applications, emphasizing the correlation between molecular design and photovoltaic performance. Adjusting the physical properties of devices through strategic sensitizer design can improve device performance, with photovoltaic parameters presented for all dyes and application insights on CZ, TPA, and PTZ-based dyes provided following a systematic review.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Electrochemistry
Jeanet Conradie
Summary: This mini review briefly discusses the developments on the application of polypyridyl-based copper complexes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Copper complexes can be used as dye sensitizers and/or as redox mediators in DSSCs. The abundance and low cost of copper make it a cheaper and non-toxic alternative to the commonly used iodide/triiodide electrolyte redox couple and the expensive and rare ruthenium-based dyes.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nick Vlachopoulos, Anders Hagfeldt, Iacopo Benesperi, Marina Freitag, Ghufran Hashmi, Guobin Jia, Ruri Agung Wahyuono, Jonathan Plentz, Benjamin Dietzek
Summary: This paper discusses issues related to the current direction of DSSC research, focusing on the transition from iodide-containing electrolyte to alternative CTMs, introducing new dyes and counter electrodes in the process. The recent developments of CTMs based on Cu coordination complexes and their associated novel dyes are discussed in detail.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Selvam Ramasamy
Summary: Controlling the morphology of sensitizer on a TiO2 nanocrystalline surface is crucial for enhancing electron injection and suppressing charge recombination, ultimately leading to improved performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Audun Formo Buene, David Moe Almenningen
Summary: Despite their attractiveness, phenothiazine dyes are unlikely to be the main sensitizers of high-efficiency DSSCs in the future, due to low oxidation potentials, low extinction coefficients, and inherent limitations restricting the further optimization of their photophysical properties.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zijian Deng, Xichuan Yang, Kaiyuan Yang, Li Zhang, Haoxin Wang, Xiuna Wang, Licheng Sun
Summary: Redox mediators are crucial in dye-sensitized solar cells, and copper complexes are a good option, despite electron recombination issues. By synthesizing two helical copper(I) complexes and eliminating the use of 4-(tert-butyl)pyridine, the efficiency of the solar cells was improved. Increasing the concentration of (CuLa)-La-I showed an increase in both photocurrent and photovoltage, leading to the best power conversion efficiency at 8.2%. Further investigation into the relationship between Cu(I) concentration and recombination was conducted for future research.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jincheng An, Zhifeng Tian, Li Zhang, Xichuan Yang, Bin Cai, Ze Yu, Liyan Zhang, Anders Hagfeldt, Licheng Sun
Summary: Three novel push-pull dyes, AJ502, TZ101 and TZ102, were synthesized and used as co-sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Among them, the co-sensitization of AJ502 with TZ101 and TZ102 significantly improves the power conversion efficiency of the DSSC, with the fluorine atoms in TZ101 playing a critical role in widening the active light capturing bands on the TiO2 film.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Shengzhong Li, Shuangyu Zhang, Shu Mei, Xiangfei Kong, Miao Yang, Wenjun Wu, Shuhua Zhang, Haijun Tan
Summary: The novel porphyrin dye T-2 with phenoxazine (POZ) as the donor unit showed significantly higher performance in dyesensitized solar cells compared to T-1. The butterfly-shaped structure and extra alkyl chain of POZ were identified as the main reasons for the improved efficiency observed in the T-2-based device.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Carolina Hora, Fatima Santos, Maria Goreti Ferreira Sales, Dzmitry Ivanou, Adelio Miguel Mendes
Summary: This study investigates the optimization of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for indoor applications and explores the impact of various factors on charge transfer, recombination, and photovoltaic response. The optimized DSSCs demonstrate great potential as efficient indoor photovoltaics and back-illuminated devices.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fatima Santos, Jorge Martins, Jeffrey Capitao, Seyedali Emami, Dzmitry Ivanou, Adelio Mendes
Summary: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising technology for wireless powering of low-consuming electronics and sensor nodes of the internet of things (IoT). This study achieved highly stable cobalt-mediated monolithic DSSCs through encapsulation using a glass-frit sealant, eliminating extrinsic degradation factors.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guillaume Bousrez, Olivier Renier, Brando Adranno, Volodymyr Smetana, Anja-Verena Mudring
Summary: The study found that 1,3-dialkyltriazolium iodides exhibit high chemical and thermal stability, with significant changes in electrolyte properties upon addition of different iodine content, where iodine addition usually leads to a decrease in melting point and an increase in conductivity. Compared to imidazolium iodides, triazolium compounds show higher efficiency and longer battery life, possibly due to their non-hygroscopic nature.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fatima Santos, Carolina Hora, Dzmitry Ivanou, Adelio M. Mendes
Summary: Due to their high power conversion efficiency under indoor light, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are considered a promising energy technology for future IoT devices and wireless sensors. Monolithic design DSSCs offer advantages in commercial production, such as straightforward processing, low cost, and compactness.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yiming Li, Jing Wang, Hao Wang, Zhichao Di, Mingyan Liu, Xueping Zong, Chunsheng Li, Yan Sun, Mao Liang, Zhe Sun
Summary: In this study, counter electrodes composed of aggregated PEDOT with high transparency and excellent electrochemical activity were applied to bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells. The cells achieved a high bifaciality of 0.92 and a maximum power production of 11.3% under realistic conditions.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yameng Ren, Dan Zhang, Jiajia Suo, Yiming Cao, Felix T. Eickemeyer, Nick Vlachopoulos, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Anders Hagfeldt, Michael Graetzel
Summary: We report a method of pre-adsorbing a monolayer of a hydroxamic acid derivative on the surface of titanium dioxide to improve the dye molecular packing and photovoltaic performance of two newly designed co-adsorbed sensitizers. The best performing cosensitized solar cells exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 15.2% under a standard air mass of 1.5 global simulated sunlight and showed long-term operational stability of 500 hours.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen Wang, Panlong Zhai, Mingyue Xia, Wei Liu, Junfeng Gao, Licheng Sun, Jungang Hou
Summary: This study reports the reversible reconstruction behavior accompanied by copper dynamic evolution, leading to the formation of high-valent cobalt species in active sites during water-alkali electrolysis. The crucial roles of electronic structure evolution and oxygen-vacancy-site mechanism in catalyst activity are revealed through experimental and theoretical investigations.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhaozhong Fan, Ruichun Luo, Yanxue Zhang, Bo Zhang, Panlong Zhai, Yanting Zhang, Chen Wang, Junfeng Gao, Wu Zhou, Licheng Sun, Jungang Hou
Summary: Researchers have developed an indium-nickel dual-atom catalyst that exhibits high CO selectivity and achieves a high industrial CO partial current density. The synergistic effect of the dual-sites and oxygen bridge in the catalyst reduces the reaction barrier for *COOH formation and suppresses the undesired hydrogen evolution reaction.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sebastian Svanstrom, Alberto Garcia Fernandez, Tamara Sloboda, T. Jesper Jacobsson, Fuguo Zhang, Fredrik O. L. Johansson, Danilo Kuhn, Denis Ceolin, Jean -Pascal Rueff, Licheng Sun, Kerttu Aitola, Hakan Rensmo, Ute B. Cappel
Summary: In this study, the band alignment and interfacial electric field variations of a fully functional lead halide perovskite solar cell structure under operating conditions were measured directly using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The results showed that 70% of the photovoltage was generated at the back contact, with equal contributions from the hole transport material/gold interface and the perovskite/hole transport material interface.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Soe Ko Ko Aung, Anuja Vijayan, Masoud Karimipour, Tosawat Seetawan, Gerrit Boschloo
Summary: Low temperature processed carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) have been developed as low-cost and easily fabricated alternatives to traditional perovskite solar cells. However, their power conversion efficiency (PCE) still lags behind that of traditional perovskite solar cells with gold contacts.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianqi Liu, Shaoqi Zhan, Nannan Shen, Linqin Wang, Zoltan Szabo, Hao Yang, Marten S. G. Ahlquist, Licheng Sun
Summary: Inspired by biological systems, a Ru-based molecular water oxidation catalyst was designed to mimic enzymatic framework, utilizing a configurationally labile ligand that acts as both an electron donor and a proton acceptor. Through various analysis and calculations, it was demonstrated that the self-adaptive ligand enables fast catalytic kinetics with a turnover frequency comparable to natural photosynthesis.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu Guo, Johannes Messinger, Lars Kloo, Licheng Sun
Summary: O2 formation in photosystem II (PSII) is still not well understood, but the prevailing theoretical model involves a Mn(IV)-oxyl unit in an open-cubane Mn4CaO6 cluster. However, it has been proposed that the S3 state of higher plants lacks an extra ligand, and instead features a penta-coordinate dangler Mn(V)=oxo covalently linked to a closed-cubane Mn3CaO4 cluster. In this study, the researchers explored various possible pathways and found that the nucleophilic oxo-oxo coupling (NOOC) between Mn(V)=oxo and mu 3-oxo is the only feasible mechanism. They described an energetically feasible process starting from the S4 state, involving the formation of peroxide and superoxide, followed by O2 release and a second water insertion.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jonas Keruckas, Patryk Janasik, Rasa Keruckiene, Pawel Czulkin, Malgorzata Czichy, Mieczyslaw Lapkowski, Dmytro Volyniuk, Ranush Durgaryan, Byeong Jo Kim, Gerrit Boschloo, Juozas Vidas Grazulevicius
Summary: This study presents Di-(9-methyl-3-carbazolyl)-(4-anisyl)-amine as an effective hole-transporting material for perovskite solar cells. The compound is synthesized from inexpensive starting compounds through a three-step synthesis. It exhibits reversible double-wave electrochemical oxidation and polymerization at higher potential. The compound has been used to fabricate dopant-free hole-transporting layers in perovskite solar cells, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 15.5%.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yawen Liu, Bin Cai, Hao Yang, Gerrit Boschloo, Erik M. J. Johansson
Summary: High band gap FAPbBr(3) perovskite solar cells have attracted tremendous interest recently due to their high open circuit voltage and good stability. A mixed solvent approach for the second step of preparation was introduced, which resulted in favorable properties and improved power conversion efficiency. Addition of a small amount of MACl further enhanced the photovoltage performance, achieving a high PCE of 9.23% under ambient conditions.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dexin Chen, Yunxuan Ding, Xing Cao, Linqin Wang, Husileng Lee, Gaoxin Lin, Wenlong Li, Guoheng Ding, Licheng Sun
Summary: In this study, a bimetallic Ni-Cu electrocatalyst was developed to enhance the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) by passivating the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhuofeng Li, Linqin Wang, Tao Wang, Licheng Sun, Wenxing Yang
Summary: Developing alternative electrolysis techniques is crucial for advancing electrocatalysis. Recent studies have shown that pulse electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) can improve the selectivity of CO2RR. This study reveals that pulse electrolysis improves the C(2+) selectivity of CO2RR through dynamic controls of the surface CuxO/Cu composition.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Physical
Suchismita Guha, Gerrit Boschloo
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Physical
Yu Chen, Gemma-Louise Davies, Anders Hagfeldt, Nicholas Kotov
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Zohreh Niazi, Anders Hagfeldt, Elaheh K. Goharshadi
Summary: Graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) have been incorporated in various components of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to address the challenges of stability, scalability, and flexibility. These materials, with their excellent optical, electronic, photonic, thermal, and mechanical properties, have shown promise in improving the efficiency, reproducibility, and stability of PSCs.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fuxiang Ji, Bin Zhang, Weimin M. Chen, Irina A. Buyanova, Feng Wang, Gerrit Boschloo
Summary: Lead-free perovskites with reversible and switchable optical properties have potential applications in smart windows, sensors, data encryption, and other on-demand devices. This study demonstrates for the first time the switchable optical bleaching of bismuth-based perovskite films induced by methylamine gas, and reveals the underlying mechanism.