Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jacqueline M. Cole, Ulrich F. J. Mayer
Summary: This feature article discusses the fundamental use of materials-characterization methods in determining the structural information of the dye-TiO2 interface in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). It introduces various techniques for obtaining specific structural information on the interface, such as dye anchoring, dye aggregation, and molecular dye orientation. The article emphasizes the importance of acquiring such information for DSC design guidelines and the validation process of design-to-device pipelines.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
I-Ping Liu, Yun-Yu Chen, Yu-Syuan Cho, Li-Wei Wang, Chung-Yu Chien, Yuh-Lang Lee
Summary: A novel double-layered electrolyte architecture is demonstrated for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, showing comparable efficiency to liquid-state cells. The addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles improves the cell performance by increasing open-circuit voltage and maintaining high efficiencies. These findings highlight the potential of this double-layered architecture for enhancing DSSC performance.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2021)
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)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Anik Sen, Miftahussurur Hamidi Putra, Abul Kalam Biswas, Anil Kumar Behera, Axel Gross
Summary: In this review, the focus is on renewable sources of energy with an emphasis on solar cell applications. Specifically, the possible future directions for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are discussed. DSSCs have gained significant research attention due to their importance in energy conversion. The review discusses the use of metal dye sensitizers, metal-free organic dyes, and natural dyes in DSSCs, highlighting their low cost, simplicity of preparation, low toxicity, and ease of production. Computational studies are also reviewed, emphasizing their contribution to the development of new dye sensitizers. The article presents a conceptual understanding of the development and working principle of photoactive DSSC materials, along with examples of studies on different dye sensitizers using both scarce to abundant metal-based dyes and metal-free organic dyes for n-type and p-type DSSCs. The choice of organic dyes, including donor, spacer, or acceptor, is discussed, and the potential of dual donor-based dyes is presented.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yuan Gao, Wei Liao, Wen Wang, Xueqin Zuo, Qun Yang, Huaibao Tang, Shaowei Jin, Guang Li
Summary: In this study, nanoparticles of CoFe2O4 and FeS2/FeCoS2 were prepared by direct oxidation and sulfurization of Fe-Co precursor for use as counter electrode materials in DSSCs. FeS2/FeCoS2@RGO exhibited superior electrical conductivity and catalytic activity, resulting in a higher power conversion efficiency compared to other nanoparticles and platinum. Integration of RGO improved the performance of FeS2/FeCoS2 by reducing agglomeration and enhancing the reaction rate of tri-iodide.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Muhammad Younas, Mohammed Ashraf Gondal, Mohamed A. Dastageer, Aasif Hilal
Summary: In this study, a layer of cobalt-metallic-ion-coordinated metal-organic framework (Co-MOF199) is deposited on the photoanode of conventional dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), resulting in increased electron recombination lifetime and resistance, leading to improved open-circuit voltage and power conversion efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
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
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yongliang Liu, Shengbo Zhu, Yilin Su, Ran Chen, Wenzhi Zhang, Xiaoling Niu, Weixing Chen, Xinbing Chen, Zhongwei An
Summary: Two new base dyes co-sensitized with an acid dye were synthesized to construct acid@base co-sensitized solar cells, showing enhanced photovoltaic performances. The combination of acid and base dyes effectively suppressed competitive adsorption, increased dye coverage on TiO2 surfaces, decreased electron recombination, raised photovoltage, and boosted photocurrent, resulting in a 32.5% increase in photovoltaic efficiency. The acid@base co-DSSCs exhibited improved performance and stability under different irradiation conditions, providing a basis for application evaluation.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Daniel Ursu, Melinda Vajda, Marinela Miclau
Summary: The concept of Agriculture 4.0 proposes a combination of agriculture and solar energy as a possible solution to the energy and food crisis. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a less-studied solar cell, known as DSSC, with an affordable commercial yellow dye to meet the requirements of an autonomous greenhouse. The successful implementation of DSSC in autonomous greenhouses depends on transparency, UV absorption, solar cell efficiency, and sustainability throughout the year.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dinesh Nugegoda, Leigh Anna Hunt, Anthony Devdass, Hammad Cheema, Ryan C. Fortenberry, Jonah W. Jurss, Nathan Hammer, Jared H. Delcamp
Summary: This study focuses on enhancing the rate of interfacial electron transfer reactions in dye-sensitized solar cells by designing a coordination complex between a redox shuttle and an organic dye. The results demonstrate that the designed dye-binding to the redox shuttle leads to improved dye regeneration rates and significantly higher device performance under fluorescent lighting conditions.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ke Deng, Jacqueline M. Cole, Joshaniel F. K. Cooper, John R. P. Webster, Richard Haynes, Othman K. Al Bahri, Nina-Juliane Steinke, Shaoliang Guan, Liliana Stan, Xiaozhi Zhan, Tao Zhu, Daniel W. Nye, Gavin B. G. Stenning
Summary: The importance of the electrolyte/dye/TiO2 interface structures within DSC devices is discussed in this study, with a proposed method of using in situ neutron reflectometry to analyze these structures.
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
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tobias Luchs, Anna Zieleniewska, Andreas Kunzmann, Peter R. Schol, Dirk M. Guldi, Andreas Hirsch
Summary: This study introduces newly designed dye layers for covalent deposition and non-covalent post-functionalization of TiO2 nanoparticle films. The addition of a second layer of porphyrin/BODIPY significantly increases the overall efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jae Ho Kim, Seok-Ju Yoo, Daseul Lee, Jin Woo Choi, Sang-Cheol Han, Tae In Ryu, Hyung Woo Lee, Myunghun Shin, Myungkwan Song
Summary: Fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells (FDSSCs) have the potential to be future flexible or wearable power sources, with Ag@SiO2 NPs improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of solid-state FDSSCs. SS-FDSSCs demonstrate good operational stability within a certain temperature range, maintaining efficiency above 90% after multiple bending and washing cycles.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kiran P. Shejale, Arun Jaiswal, Aditya Kumar, Sumit Saxena, Shobha Shukla
Summary: The high-quality nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) synthesized using domestic microwave-assisted pyrolysis method exhibit excellent physiochemical and optical properties, and when incorporated into the DSSC structure, they lead to improved performance with high photoconversion efficiency and photocurrent density.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xuesong Lin, Hongzhen Su, Sifan He, Yenan Song, Yanbo Wang, Zhenzhen Qin, Yongzhen Wu, Xudong Yang, Qifeng Han, Junfeng Fang, Yiqiang Zhang, Hiroshi Segawa, Michael Graetzel, Liyuan Han
Summary: The use of a composite electrode of copper-nickel alloy and in situ-grown graphene improves the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells. This composite electrode has an appropriate work function and provides excellent protection against oxygen, water, and internal reactions. The resulting devices demonstrate high stability under various environmental conditions.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Huaiqing Luo, Pengwei Li, Junjie Ma, Liyuan Han, Yiqiang Zhang, Yanlin Song
Summary: This article discusses the issues related to Pb-based perovskite solar cells, such as the toxicity and leakage of lead, and their impact on the environment. It also proposes strategies to address these issues, including inhibiting Pb leakage and achieving Pb recycling and sustainable utilization.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tao Wang, Yao Zhang, Weiyu Kong, Liang Qiao, Bingguo Peng, Zhichao Shen, Qifeng Han, Han Chen, Zhiliang Yuan, Rongkun Zheng, Xudong Yang
Summary: This study presents a solution strategy to stabilize the hole transport in organic layers of perovskite solar cells, resulting in improved hole conductivity and well-matched band alignment. The fabricated solar cells exhibited excellent durability and maintained high conversion efficiency under extreme conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yao Zhang, Chunyan Li, Enbing Bi, Tao Wang, Peng Zhang, Xudong Yang, Han Chen
Summary: By constructing a low-dimensional halide/perovskite heterostructure and molecular engineering of the organic spacer, the photovoltaic performance of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been significantly improved with high efficiency and stability.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chunyan Li, Yao Zhang, Xiaojun Zhang, Peng Zhang, Xudong Yang, Han Chen
Summary: A reactive surface modification approach using in situ decomposition of urea on the nickel oxide (NiOx) surface is reported, resulting in improved interface quality between NiOx and halide perovskites. This strategy enables NiOx-based perovskite solar cells to achieve a champion power conversion efficiency of 23.61% and remain above 90% efficiency after 2000 hours of thermal aging.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shaowei Liu, Hongmei Zhan, Chuanli Qin, Chuanjiang Qin
Summary: By adding excessive ligand combinations, the phase distribution of quasi-2D perovskite can be redistributed and the high-order phase can be inhibited, realizing spectrally stable pure red perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). The appropriate excess organic ligands do not affect charge injection but maintain efficient energy funneling and passivate the defect. The narrowed phase distribution reduces the band tail state and restrains reverse charge transfer, resulting in enhanced radiation recombination. We achieved efficient and spectrally stable pure red PeLEDs operating at 638 nm (approaching the Rec. 2020 specification) with a peak EQE of 11.8% and a maximum luminance of 1688 cd/cm2. This study provides guidance for future developments of highly efficient pure red PeLEDs.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dezhong Zhang, Yunxing Fu, Wenping Wu, Binhe Li, Helong Zhu, Hongmei Zhan, Yanxiang Cheng, Chuanjiang Qin, Lixiang Wang
Summary: This study tactfully developed a passivator that can comprehensively passivate defects in quasi-2D perovskites from the surface, bulk, and buried interface. This leads to a significant improvement in the efficiency and lifetime of LEDs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Caiyi Zhang, Xiangqian Shen, Mengjiong Chen, Yan Zhao, Xuesong Lin, Zhenzhen Qin, Yanbo Wang, Liyuan Han
Summary: The inverted perovskite solar cell achieves a stable and efficient buried heterojunction by forming halogen bonding, which leads to improved power conversion efficiency and stability.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xuesong Lin, Yanbo Wang, Hongzhen Su, Zhenzhen Qin, Ziyang Zhang, Mengjiong Chen, Min Yang, Yan Zhao, Xiao Liu, Xiangqian Shen, Liyuan Han
Summary: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are advancing towards commercialization, but the high-cost halogen-reactive anode poses a challenge. This study utilizes halogen migration in PSCs to generate a uniform tunneling layer between the hole transport materials and anodes, breaking the Schottky barrier and enabling high-efficiency and stable PSCs.
NANO-MICRO LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yunxing Fu, Hongmei Zhan, Dezhong Zhang, Yanxiang Cheng, Lixiang Wang, Chuanjiang Qin
Summary: The electronic and spatial effects of the molecular additives methyl, hydrogen, and hydroxyl groups substituted the diphenyl phosphine oxygen additives were systematically studied. It was found that the hydroxyl group-substituted diphenylphosphinic acid (OH-DPPO) exhibited the best defect passivation ability due to its electron-donating conjugation effect and moderate steric hindrance. Additionally, the hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl group and Br suppressed ion migration. The OH-DPPO passivated devices achieved an external quantum efficiency of 22.44% and a 6-fold improvement in lifetime.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuhang Liang, Xiangyuan Cui, Feng Li, Catherine Stampfl, Simon P. Ringer, Xudong Yang, Jun Huang, Rongkun Zheng
Summary: Oxygen ingression has been shown to decrease the carrier lifetime of Sn-based perovskites, and our calculations reveal that oxygen tends to form substitutional OI, which remarkably increases the recombination rate of native I vacancies (VI). This explains the observed decline of carrier lifetime in perovskites exposed to air. The enhanced carrier recombination is due to a smaller electron capture barrier of OI, resulting from lattice strengthening and suppressed structural relaxation upon electron capture. These insights offer a route to improve device performance in Sn-based perovskite optoelectronics operating in ambient air.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lutao Tao, Hongmei Zhan, Yanxiang Cheng, Chuanjiang Qin, Lixiang Wang
Summary: Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have potential in circularly polarized light source applications with chirality. Circularly polarized photoluminescence is important for investigating the chiroptical properties of perovskites. However, further research is needed for optimization. Chiral ligands can influence the electronic structure of perovskites, increasing asymmetry and emitting circularly polarized photons. Modifying with chiral amines leads to passivation of film defects, enhancing radiation recombination and emitting more circularly polarized photons. This approach offers the possibility of fabricating and refining circularly polarized light-emitting diodes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Junfang Wang, Chenglin Yang, Hao Chen, Mingsheng Lv, Tianhua Liu, Haining Chen, Ding-Jiang Xue, Jin-Song Hu, Liyuan Han, Shihe Yang, Xiangyue Meng
Summary: A crystal growth kinetic regime called oriented attachment (OA) has been discovered for tin halide perovskites (THPs), which allows the fabrication of high-quality THP films for optoelectronic devices. By tuning the surface energy using 2-phenoxyethylamine bromide (POEBr), highly oriented FASnI3-POEBr perovskite films are obtained. The OA growth kinetics reduces the crystal growth rate and enables the formation of dense, smooth, and oriented THP films, resulting in an impressive efficiency of over 14%.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhichao Shen, Xinhui Luo, Yangzi Shen, Xiao Liu, Hiroshi Segawa, Qifeng Han, Liyuan Han
Summary: Tin oxide is the mainstream electron transport layer in highly efficient perovskite solar cells due to its high mobility, transmittance, and UV stability. A seed-assisted growth strategy is developed to prepare a high-quality SnO2 layer at a low temperature (100 degrees C), resulting in a higher conductivity and mobility of the SnO2 layer. The solar cells achieved a high power conversion efficiency of 25.26% with a high-quality SnO2 layer formed at low temperature, and flexible perovskite solar cells also achieved a conversion efficiency over 22%.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianhao Wu, Luis K. Ono, Rengo Yoshioka, Chenfeng Ding, Congyang Zhang, Silvia Mariotti, Jiahao Zhang, Kirill Mitrofanov, Xiao Liu, Hiroshi Segawa, Ryota Kabe, Liyuan Han, Yabing Qi
Summary: Nickel oxide (NiOx) is a promising hole-selective contact for efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs), but its long-term operational lifetime is limited by light-induced degradation. This study clarifies the degradation mechanism and proposes a solution by constructing a TMSBr buffer layer, resulting in significantly improved operational lifetimes for NiOx-based PSCs.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kecheng Long, Shaozhen Huang, Han Wang, Anbang Wang, Yuejiao Chen, Zhijian Liu, Yu Zhang, Zhibin Wu, Weikun Wang, Libao Chen
Summary: This study proposes a low-cost Li foil surface-reconstruction strategy using a mechanochemistry reaction between fumed silica and Li to achieve dendrite-free Li metal anode. The reconstructed surface enhances the electrode dynamics and constructs an anionphilic interface, leading to significantly improved low-temperature and cycling performance of Li metal batteries while maintaining high energy density and stable cycle performance.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Changchun Ye, Zhenghui Pan, Qinghua Zhang, Fang Yin, Yanan Wang, Yifei Li, Guangxu Chen, Jia Li, Yongcai Qiu, Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse, Lin Gu, Zhang Lin, Lin Guo
Summary: A facile synthesis route for heterostructured metal oxides via quenching-induced structural transformation was developed. Multiple quenching triggered the transformation from NiMoO4 to NiFe2O4, creating a novel heterostructure, and the pre-quenching generated disordered defect structure can promote subsequent quenching regulation.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Liu, Xufei An, Ke Yang, Jiabin Ma, Jinshuo Mi, Danfeng Zhang, Xing Cheng, Yuhang Li, Yuetao Ma, Ming Liu, Feiyu Kang, Yan-Bing He
Summary: The lack of understanding of ion transport in the cathode of PVDF-based solid-state lithium metal batteries limits their performance. The use of carbon-coated Li1.4Al0.4Ti1.6(PO4)3 nanowires as a cathode filler improves the diffusion of ions in the thick cathode, leading to enhanced battery performance and stability.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zixing Wang, Kang Luo, Jian-Fang Wu, Peng Gao, Kexuan Wang, Shi Chen, Jian Tu, Xiulin Fan, Jilei Liu
Summary: This study improves the performance limitations of potassium-ion batteries at extreme temperatures by regulating the ion-solvent-coordinated structure, leading to enhanced cycling performance and capacity retention.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shan Jiang, Ruyue Wang, Minghua Li, Runnan Yu, Fuzhi Wang, Zhan'ao Tan
Summary: This study developed a synergistic electrical and light management strategy to maximize the voltage output in monolithic perovskite/organic tandem solar cells. By optimizing the interface contact and regulating the donor/acceptor ratio, the fabricated cells achieved remarkable power conversion efficiency and high open-circuit voltage.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gwanho Kim, Jae Won Lee, Kaiying Zhao, Taebin Kim, Woojoong Kim, Jin Woo Oh, Kyuho Lee, Jihye Jang, Guangtao Zan, Jong Woong Park, Seokyeong Lee, Yeonji Kim, Wei Jiang, Shengyou Li, Cheolmin Park
Summary: In this study, a new type of complementary energy harvester that can simultaneously generate moisture-induced and triboelectric power is introduced. This device exhibits high resilience, high energy output, and potential applications in emergency guidance systems.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
