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Towards Optimization of Materials for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Luo Yanhong,
Li Dongmei,
Meng Qingbo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200901078
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , materials science , fabrication , electrolyte , nanocrystalline material , nanotechnology , energy conversion efficiency , photovoltaic system , electrode , solid state , environmentally friendly , process engineering , engineering physics , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , engineering , chemistry , medicine , ecology , biology , alternative medicine , pathology
Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have received widespread attention owing to their low cost, easy fabrication, and relatively high solar‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency. Based on the nanocrystalline TiO 2 electrode, Ru‐polypyridyl‐complex dye, liquid electrolyte with I − /I 3 − redox couple, and Pt counter electrode, DSCs have already exhibited an efficiency above 11% and offer an appealing alternative to conventional solar cells. However, further improvements in the efficiency and stability are still required to drive forward practical application. These improvements require the cooperative optimization of the component materials, structures, and processing techniques. In this Research News article, recent progress in DSCs made by our group are reviewed, including some novel approaches to the synthesis of solid‐state and environmentally friendly electrolytes, the fabrication of alternative low‐cost nanostructural electrodes, and the control of recombination at the interfaces.