Universal low-temperature MWCNT-COOH-based counter electrode and a new thiolate/disulfide electrolyte system for dye-sensitized solar cells

An efficient and thermally stable dye-sensitized solar cell based on a lamellar nanostructured thiolate/disulfide liquid crystal electrolyte and carbon/PEDOT composite nanoparticle electrode

A combination of smectic thiolate/disulfide electrolyte and PEDOT/carbon nanoparticle electrode greatly improves inner charge transfer for an efficient and stable DSSC.

Inorganic salt templated porous TiO2 photoelectrode for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Salt template induced TiO₂ photoelectrodes with channels (or pores) were applied to improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.

A dye sensitized solar cell using natural counter electrode and natural dye derived from mangosteen peel waste

Mangosteen peel is an inedible portion of a fruit. We are interested in using these residues as components of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Carbonized mangosteen peel was used with mangosteen peel dye as a natural counter electrode and a natural photosensitizer, respectively. A distinctive mesoporous honeycomb-like carbon structure with a rough nanoscale surface was found in carbonized mangosteen peels. The efficiency of a dye sensitized solar cell using carbonized mangosteen peel was compared to that of DSSCs with Pt and PEDOT-PSS counter electrodes. The highest solar conversion efficiency (2.63%) was obtained when using carbonized mangosteen peel and an organic disulfide/thiolate (T₂/T⁻) electrolyte.

Recent Advances of Cobalt(II/III) Redox Couples for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Applications

In recent years dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have emerged as one of the alternatives for the global energy crisis. DSSCs have achieved a certified efficiency of >11% by using the I(-) /I3 (-) redox couple. In order to commercialize the technology almost all components of the device have to be improved. Among the various components of DSSCs, the redox couple that regenerates the oxidized sensitizer plays a crucial role in achieving high efficiency and durability of the cell. However, the I(-) /I3 (-) redox couple has certain limitations such as the absorption of triiodide up to 430 nm and the volatile nature of iodine, which also corrodes the silver-based current collectors. These limitations are obstructing the commercialization of this technology. For this reason, one has to identify alternative redox couples. In this regard, the Co(II/III) redox couple is found to be the best alternative to the existing I(-) /I3 (-) redox couple. Recently, DSSC test cell efficiency has risen up to 13% by using the cobalt redox couple. This review emphasizes the recent development of Co(II/III) redox couples for DSSC applications.

A ruthenium complex as a single-component redox shuttle for electrochemical photovoltaics

A primitive version of a ruthenium complex [Ru(bpy)3(2+)] was employed for the first time as a new conceptual "single-component redox shuttle" for dye-sensitized solar cells. This single shuttle led to a large enhancement of the open-circuit photovoltage (VOC) to ∼940 mV relative to that of conventional iodine-based shuttle and greatly increased the efficiency of the solar-to-electric energy conversion at lower illumination levels by a factor of ca. 5.6.

7.35% Efficiency rear-irradiated flexible dye-sensitized solar cells by sealing liquid electrolyte in a groove

Transparent Ni–Se alloys are successfully synthesized by an electrochemical deposition strategy and employed as counter electrode (CE) materials in rear-irradiated flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The good catalytic activity, and cost-effectiveness highlight the potential applications of the transparent Ni–Se alloy CEs in flexible DSSCs.