Status and outlook of sensitizers/dyes used in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC): a review

Shalini, S.; Balasundaraprabhu, R.; Kumar, T. Satish; Prabavathy, N.; Sundaram, S.; Prasanna, S.

doi:10.1002/er.3538

Cited by 200 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…The oxidized states of the dyes after the electron photoinjection play an important role due to: (1) this oxidized dye is regenerated to the ground state by an electron donation from the electrolyte that commonly are I – /

{normalI}_{3}^{-}

(4.60 eV) or the Co III/II (5.0 eV) redox couples, among others, also (2) intermolecular hole hopping or lateral recombination can occur from one dye to a second dye in the oxidized state, and (3) a charge recombination between the charged semiconductor and the oxidized dye TiO 2 (e – )/dye + is possible, where the electron moves back to the parent dye, and is also one of the issues that reduces the efficiency of the photoconversion . For this last case, it is stated that the localization of the hole over the donor fragment after photoinjection generates a charge separation, which leads to decrease the probability of the interfacial electron back‐transfer.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many different types of dyes have been synthetized, used and proposed for DSSCs . Transition metal complexes such as Ru(II)‐based systems have reached overall efficiencies up to 11.4% under standard conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These organic dyes offer the advantage of ease synthesis and design, high molar extinction coefficients, and low costs of production. In this framework, most currently used organic sensitizers are characterized by an Acceptor‐bridge‐Donor ( A ‐bridge‐ D ) arrangement which constitutes a common strategy in the architecture of dye to get charge separation . The D constitutes an electron rich group connected to the bridge that is normally a conjugated π linker to A that is bounded to the semiconductor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the relevance of thiophene rings as bridge unit in acceptor‐bridge‐donor dyes on self‐aggregation and performance in DSSCs

et al. 2017

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The possibility of dye charge recombination in DSSCs remains a challenge for the field. This consists of: (a) back-transfer from the TiO to the oxidized dye and (b) intermolecular electron transfer between dyes. The latter is attributed to dye aggregation due to dimeric conformations. This leads to poor electron injection which decreases the photocurrent conversion efficiency. Most organic sensitizers are characterized by an Acceptor-Bridge-Donor (A-Bridge-D) arrangement that is commonly employed to provide charge separation and, therefore, lowering the unwanted back-transfer. Here, we address the intermolecular electron transfer by studying the dimerization and photovoltaic performance of a group of A-Bridge-D structured dyes. Specifically, eight famous sulfur containing π-bridges were analyzed (A and D remained fixed). Through quantum mechanical and molecular dynamics approaches, it was found that the formation of weakly stabilized dimers is allowed. The dyes with covalently bonded and fused thiophene rings as Bridges, 6d and 7d as well as 8d with a fluorene, would present high aggregation and, therefore, high probability of recombination processes. Conversely, using TiO cluster and surface models, delineated the shortest bridges to improve the adsorption energy and the stability of the system. Finally, the elongation of the bridge up to 2 and 3 units and their photovoltaic parameters were studied. These results showed that all the sensitizers are able to provide similar photocurrent outcomes, regardless of whether the bridge is elongated. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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{normalI}_{3}^{-}

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the relevance of thiophene rings as bridge unit in acceptor‐bridge‐donor dyes on self‐aggregation and performance in DSSCs

et al. 2017

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“…The absorption of light by the dye can be described with Beer-Lambert's law [44]. High adsorption coefficient that facilitate faster adsorption of dye molecules on the surface of photoelectrode.…”

Section: Dyementioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancement in the photostability of natural dyes for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications: a review

Prabavathy

Shalini

Balasundaraprabhu

et al. 2017

Int. J. Energy Res.

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Summary The advancements in the generation of solar cells have created a landmark to design a cost‐effective, less weight, biocompatible, and environmental‐friendly solar cell. Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have become a topic of significant research in the recent years because of their imperative role in the zone of harvesting energy from the renewable source, and it appears to be a promising candidate for the triumph because of its low cost and ease of preparation. The use of synthetic dyes as a sensitizer for DSSC provides better efficiency and high durability. Unfortunately, they suffer from several margins such as higher cost and usage of toxic materials. These downsides have opened up for alternative sensitizer such as biocompatible natural dyes. Natural dyes contain plant pigments such as carotenoid, flavonoid, betalains, and chlorophyll that act as sensitizers (dye) for DSSC. But, the efficiency of natural dyes is not up to the mark mainly due to photoinstability of natural dye in the presence of sunlight that leads to photodegradation. The stability issues are mainly due to interaction of natural dyes with photoelectrode. The photoelectrodes in DSSC are semiconductor materials with superior characteristic of photocatalytic activity (PCA). The PCA of titanium dioxide (TiO2) generates high energetic free electrons on the surface of film that produce free radical ions in contact with moisture. These free radical ions readily degrade the organic matter present nearby (natural dye in DSSC). Thus, the PCA of photoelectrode is responsible for the photodegradation of dyes causing photoinstability. The main objective of this review is to study the photoinstability of natural dyes in DSSC. In this regard, the DSSC is concentrated into sections, and the stability issues due to PCA of photoelectrode are studied individually in the view of considering the DSSC operating with iodide‐based electrolytes and platinum as counter electrode only. Various algae groups are featured as a study tool to overview the dye interaction with photoelectrode. It highlights the application of Z‐scheme of photosynthesis to DSSC to have a broader perception on the working of DSSC and also shows some of the ways for improving the stability of dyes by suppressing or reducing the PCA of photoelectrode. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…9,10 Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is the most commonly used of these semiconducting photoanode materials in DSSC. 11 TiO 2 nanoparticles with mesoporous nature offer a large internal surface area, which improves dye adsorption, leading to efficient light absorption and high photocurrent generation. Hence, high-power conversion efficiency can be achieved compared with bulk TiO 2 material.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soft‐template synthesis of high surface area mesoporous titanium dioxide for dye‐sensitized solar cells

et al. 2018

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Summary In the present work, 10 to 14 nm titania nanoparticles with high‐packing density are synthesized by the soft‐template method using a range of cationic surfactants including cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). The synthesized nanoparticles are used as a photoanode material in dye solar cells. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations reproduce our experimental results of charge transfer and strong interaction between the TiO2 and N719. N719‐TiO2 complex establishes strong electrostatic bonding through H of the dye with the O of TiO2 surface. Solar cell efficiency of 6.08% with 12.63 mA/cm2, 793 mV, and 48.5% for short circuit current density, open circuit voltage, and fill factor, respectively, are obtained under 1 sun illumination for the dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using a film of mesoporous TiO2 synthesized from the SDS surfactant. On the other hand, the 21 nm commercial TiO2 powder (P25) device results in 4.60% efficiency under similar conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies show that the SDS device has lesser charge transport resistance than the other devices because of its higher surface area, packing density, and dye loading capacity. Our results show that employing high packing density‐based TiO2 nanoparticles represents a commercially viable approach for highly beneficial photoanode development for future DSSC applications.

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Status and outlook of sensitizers/dyes used in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC): a review

Cited by 200 publications

References 104 publications

Exploring the relevance of thiophene rings as bridge unit in acceptor‐bridge‐donor dyes on self‐aggregation and performance in DSSCs

Exploring the relevance of thiophene rings as bridge unit in acceptor‐bridge‐donor dyes on self‐aggregation and performance in DSSCs

Enhancement in the photostability of natural dyes for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications: a review

Soft‐template synthesis of high surface area mesoporous titanium dioxide for dye‐sensitized solar cells

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