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Podapangi SK, Jafarzadeh F, Mattiello S, Korukonda TB, Singh A, Beverina L, Brown TM. Green solvents, materials, and lead-free semiconductors for sustainable fabrication of perovskite solar cells. RSC Adv 2023; 13:18165-18206. [PMID: 37333793 PMCID: PMC10269851 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra01692g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Perovskite materials research has received unprecedented recognition due to its applications in photovoltaics, LEDs, and other large area low-cost electronics. The exceptional improvement in the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) achieved over the last decade has prompted efforts to develop and optimize device fabrication technologies for the industrial and commercial space. However, unstable operation in outdoor environments and toxicity of the employed materials and solvents have hindered this proposition. While their optoelectronic properties are extensively studied, the environmental impacts of the materials and manufacturing methods require further attention. This review summarizes and discusses green and environment-friendly methods for fabricating PSCs, particularly non-toxic solvents, and lead-free alternatives. Greener solvent choices are surveyed for all the solar cell films, (i.e. electron and hole transport, semiconductor, and electrode layers) and their impact on thin film quality, morphology and device performance is explored. We also discuss lead content in perovskites, its environmental impact and sequestration routes, and progress in replacing lead with greener alternatives. This review provides an analysis of sustainable green routes in perovskite solar cell fabrication, discussing the impact of each layer in the device stack, via life cycle analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh K Podapangi
- CHOSE (Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy), Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome-Tor Vergata via del Politecnico 1 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Farshad Jafarzadeh
- CHOSE (Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy), Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome-Tor Vergata via del Politecnico 1 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Sara Mattiello
- Department of Materials Science, State University of Milano-Bicocca Via Cozzi 55 I-20126 Milano Italy
| | - Tulja Bhavani Korukonda
- Department of Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Hauz Khas New Delhi-110016 India
| | - Akash Singh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University Durham NC 27708 USA
| | - Luca Beverina
- Department of Materials Science, State University of Milano-Bicocca Via Cozzi 55 I-20126 Milano Italy
| | - Thomas M Brown
- CHOSE (Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy), Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome-Tor Vergata via del Politecnico 1 00133 Rome Italy
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2
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Evaluating the photoelectric performance of D-π-A dyes with different π-conjugated bridges for DSSCs. Chem Phys Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2022.140035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Kusumawati Y, Hutama AS, Wellia DV, Subagyo R. Natural resources for dye-sensitized solar cells. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08436. [PMID: 34917788 PMCID: PMC8668837 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
While the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been ongoing for more than 30 years, the currently obtained efficiency is unsatisfactory. However, the study of DSSC development has produced a fundamental understanding of cell performance and inspired other devices, such as perovskite cell solar cells. DSSCs consist of a dye-sensitized photoanode, a counter electrode, and a redox couple in the electrolyte system. Each of the components has an important role and cofunctions with each other to obtain a high power conversion efficiency. Various modifications to each DSSC component have been applied to improve their performance. Additionally, to generate improvements, the effort to reduce production costs has been crucial. The utilization of natural sources for DSSC components is a possible solution to this issue. The utilization of natural resources also aims to increase the value of the natural resource itself. In this review, the applications of various natural sources for DSSC components are described, as well as the modification efforts that have been made to enhance their performance. The discussion covers the utilization of natural dye for sensitizer dyes in liquid DSSC applications: (1) utilization of biopolymers for quasi-solid DSSC electrolytes, (2) green synthesis methods for photoanode semiconductors, and (3) development of natural carbon counter electrodes. The detailed factors that influence improvements in cell performance are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuly Kusumawati
- Department of Chemistry, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Sukolilo Campus, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia
| | - Aulia S. Hutama
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Sekip Utara, Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Diana V. Wellia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Andalas, Padang, 24516, Indonesia
| | - Riki Subagyo
- Department of Chemistry, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Sukolilo Campus, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia
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Sajjad M, Lu W. Honeycomb‐based heterostructures: An emerging platform for advanced energy applications: A review on energy systems. ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/elsa.202100075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sajjad
- School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Yunnan University Kunming 650091 China
- Institute of Energy Storage Technologies Yunnan University Kunming China
| | - Wen Lu
- School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Yunnan University Kunming 650091 China
- Institute of Energy Storage Technologies Yunnan University Kunming China
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Tiihonen A, Siipola V, Lahtinen K, Pajari H, Widsten P, Tamminen T, Kallio T, Miettunen K. Biocarbon from brewery residues as a counter electrode catalyst in dye solar cells. Electrochim Acta 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.137583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Aftabuzzaman M, Lu C, Kim HK. Recent progress on nanostructured carbon-based counter/back electrodes for high-performance dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:17590-17648. [PMID: 32820785 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr04112b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) favor minimal environmental impact and low processing costs, factors that have prompted intensive research and development. In both cases, rare, expensive, and less stable metals (Pt and Au) are used as counter/back electrodes; this design increases the overall fabrication cost of commercial DSSC and PSC devices. Therefore, significant attempts have been made to identify possible substitutes. Carbon-based materials seem to be a favorable candidate for DSSCs and PSCs due to their excellent catalytic ability, easy scalability, low cost, and long-term stability. However, different carbon materials, including carbon black, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, among others, have distinct properties, which have a significant role in device efficiency. Herein, we summarize the recent advancement of carbon-based materials and review their synthetic approaches, structure-function relationship, surface modification, heteroatoms/metal/metal oxide incorporation, fabrication process of counter/back electrodes, and their effects on photovoltaic efficiency, based on previous studies. Finally, we highlight the advantages, disadvantages, and design criteria of carbon materials and fabrication challenges that inspire researchers to find low cost, efficient and stable counter/back electrodes for DSSCs and PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Aftabuzzaman
- Global GET-Future Lab & Department of Advanced Materials Chemistry, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong 339-700, Korea.
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Highly efficient tungsten-doped hierarchical structural N-Enriched porous carbon counter electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Samantaray MR, Mondal AK, Murugadoss G, Pitchaimuthu S, Das S, Bahru R, Mohamed MA. Synergetic Effects of Hybrid Carbon Nanostructured Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: A Review. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13122779. [PMID: 32575516 PMCID: PMC7346093 DOI: 10.3390/ma13122779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the structural and physicochemical properties of stable carbon-based nanomaterials and their applications as counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The research community has long sought to harvest highly efficient third-generation DSSCs by developing carbon-based CEs, which are among the most important components of DSSCs. Since the initial introduction of DSSCs, Pt-based electrodes have been commonly used as CEs owing to their high-electrocatalytic activities, thus, accelerating the redox couple at the electrode/electrolyte interface to complete the circuit. However, Pt-based electrodes have several limitations due to their cost, abundance, complicated facility, and low corrosion resistance in a liquid electrolyte, which further restricts the large-area applications of DSSCs. Although carbon-based nanostructures showed the best potential to replace Pt-CE of DSSC, several new properties and characteristics of carbon-CE have been reported for future enhancements in this field. In this review, we discuss the detailed synthesis, properties, and performances of various carbonaceous materials proposed for DSSC-CE. These nano-carbon materials include carbon nanoparticles, activated carbon, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotube, two-dimensional graphene, and hybrid carbon material composites. Among the CE materials currently available, carbon-carbon hybridized electrodes show the best performance efficiency (up to 10.05%) with a high fill factor (83%). Indeed, up to 8.23% improvements in cell efficiency may be achieved by a carbon-metal hybrid material under sun condition. This review then provides guidance on how to choose appropriate carbon nanomaterials to improve the performance of CEs used in DSSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas R. Samantaray
- Department of Ceramic Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India;
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh 492015, India
| | - Abhay Kumar Mondal
- Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia; (A.K.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Govindhasamy Murugadoss
- Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamilnadu 600119, India;
| | - Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu
- Multifunctional Photocatalyst and Coatings Group, SPECIFIC, Materials Research Centre, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA1 8EN, UK;
| | - Santanu Das
- Department of Ceramic Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India;
- Correspondence: (S.D.); (M.A.M.); Tel.: +91-542-2368428 (S.D.); +603-8911-8558 (M.A.M.)
| | - Raihana Bahru
- Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia; (A.K.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Mohd Ambri Mohamed
- Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia; (A.K.M.); (R.B.)
- Correspondence: (S.D.); (M.A.M.); Tel.: +91-542-2368428 (S.D.); +603-8911-8558 (M.A.M.)
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Fabrication of hexagonally arranged porous carbon films by proton beam irradiation and carbonization. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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A Review on the Advancement of Ternary Alloy Counter Electrodes for Use in Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells. METALS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/met8121080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) counter electrode (CE) plays a vital role in catalysing the conversion of triiodide ( I 3 − ) to iodide ions ( I − ), thereby ensuring the completion of the repetitive cycle of electricity generation. The platinum CE, despite being the standard counter electrode in DSSCs, has drawbacks of platinum’s rarity and high cost. Platinum is an excellent redox catalyst, and consequently, it is the most sought-after metal for catalytic conversions. The huge demand for platinum in the automotive industry for vehicular catalytic converters, the pharmaceutical industry, and in oil refining, as well as other industries, has driven its price to unprecedented levels. The prohibitive price of platinum has caused newer thin film technologies, such as the DSSC which depends on the platinum CE, to be cost-ineffective, thus meaning they cannot compete with the better-established silicon-based solar cells. These problems have stagnated the development of the DSSC, which in turn has dampened larger commercialisation prospects for this thin film technology. With this in mind, this review paper focuses on recent progress in the research and development of alternative cost-effective materials to replace Pt-based CEs. Ternary alloys are amongst the possible alternatives that have been explored, yielding varied results. Alloys, especially ternary sulphides, selenides, and oxides, are attractive as alternatives as they are cheap and are easily fabricated. Ternary alloys also have a synergistic effect produced by the coexistence of two metal ions in a crystal structure, which is believed to induce greater catalytic capability, thus making them ideal cost-effective materials to replace the Pt CE in DSSCs. This review intends to highlight the performance of ternary alloy counter electrodes through the analysis of charge transfer resistance and power conversion efficiencies. Focus is also given to the restrictions and impediments to the attainment of higher power conversion efficiency in alternative CEs. The advances in fabrication of simple ternary alloys, as well as more advanced hierarchical nanostructured counter electrodes, are discussed here in detail. Results obtained to date indicate that the efficiencies of ternary alloy counter electrodes are still below that of the platinum counter electrode, and hence more research is required to enhance their efficiencies.
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