Progress in dye‐sensitized solid state solar cells

Abstract

Recently, dye sensitized solid‐state solar cells with the configuration of n‐semiconductor | sensitizer | hole‐conductor (NDP) have been demonstrated. The maximum power conversion efficiency of this type of solar cells reaches only one third compared to that of dye sensitized photo‐electrochemical cells. The properties of different types of solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells are discussed with the aim to understand the mechanisms of operation of these devices. Here we present an overview and the current state of NDP type solar cells based on copper iodide (or copper thiocyanate) as a hole‐conductor. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Metal-Free Low-Cost Organic Dye-Sensitized ZnO-Nanorod Photoanode for Solid-State Solar Cell

“…22 23 The use of liquid electrolyte creates many serious problems in the DSSC and the drawbacks are closely associated with desorption of dye, corrosion of photoanode, leakage and evaporation of solvents, which are all significantly affect the stability and durability of the DSSC. 4 24 To overcome these hindrances, various electrolytes such as room-temperature molten salts, 25 inorganic p-type semiconductors, 26 polymer gel electrolytes, 27 ionic liquids, 28 organic hole transport materials 29 and polymer electrolytes 30 were explored as potential alternatives to the liquid electrolytes in the DSSC. Usually, the solidstate DSSC show lower solar energy conversion efficiency (7.7%) 31 than the DSSC having liquid electrolyte (12%) 9 because of the inadequate drenching of photoanode by the electrolyte and lower conductivity.…”

Thin Films of Copper (I) Iodide Doped with Iodine and Thiocyanate

“…The high hole mobility and ease of fabricating thin films by different techniques makes γ‐CuI a rare example of a hole conducting optically transparent material, potentially valuable for opto‐electronic applications . Copper (I) iodide has been adopted as the hole transport material in organic light emitting diodes dye‐sensitized and perovskite cells, heterojunction diodes, and field‐effect transistors …”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] The high hole mobility and ease of fabricating thin films by different techniques makes γ-CuI a rare example of a hole conducting optically transparent material, potentially valuable for opto-electronic applications. [6][7][8] Copper (I) iodide has been adopted as the hole transport material in organic light emitting diodes [9] dye-sensitized and perovskite cells, [10][11][12] heterojunction diodes, and field-effect transistors. [13][14][15] The p-type semiconduction in γ-CuI depends on the presence of iodine in stoichiometric excess, when iodine acts as an electron acceptor generating holes in the valence band.…”

Microemulsion‐based Synthesis of AgSCN Nanoparticles and Its Analogues

“…Metal thiocyanates, recently, received increasing attention due to their optical and semiconducting properties 1. Driven by the recently up‐coming perovskite‐based solar cells,2 metal thiocyanates became interesting for thin‐film solar cells as they are as well known as p‐type semiconductors.…”

“…Moreover, certain metal thiocyanates might be suitable for the absorption of high‐energy photons as well, in view of band‐gaps in the range of 2.5 to 3.6 eV. Especially, CuSCN and AgSCN have been discussed as promising p‐conducting materials, also based on their stability and their comparably ecological constituents (e.g., in comparison to [CH 3 NH 3 ]PbI 3 ) 1,3. By now, thiocyanates have been mainly tested as surface finishing of non‐thiocyanate semiconductors 4.…”