Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are an efficient photovoltaic technology for powering electronic applications such as wireless sensors with indoor light. Their low cost and abundant materials, as well as their capability to be manufactured as thin and light-weight flexible solar modules highlight their potential for economic indoor photovoltaics. However, their fabrication methods must be scaled to industrial manufacturing with high photovoltaic efficiency and performance stability under typical indoor conditions. This paper reviews the recent progress in DSSC research towards this goal through the development of new device structures, alternative redox shuttles, solid-state hole conductors, TiO2 photoelectrodes, catalyst materials, and sealing techniques. We discuss how each functional component of a DSSC has been improved with these new materials and fabrication techniques. In addition, we propose a scalable cell fabrication process that integrates these developments to a new monolithic cell design based on several features including inkjet and screen printing of the dye, a solid state hole conductor, PEDOT contact, compact TiO2, mesoporous TiO2, carbon nanotubes counter electrode, epoxy encapsulation layers and silver conductors. Finally, we discuss the need to design new stability testing protocols to assess the probable deployment of DSSCs in portable electronics and internet-of-things devices.
Highlights
As the global population continues to increase, the resulting energy demands have escalated, along with concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
Contrary to traditional charge-transport materials (CTMs)[48] such as Spiro-OMeTAD, which have been widely used for both solid-state Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and emerging Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) based technologies,[49,50] the abundant Cu-redox based solid hole transport material may contribute to additional cost reductions, which can be accounted as a complementary feature in addition to their active functioning to produce DSSC devices with high efficiency
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are efficient in generating the energy required for electronic applications such as wireless sensors, though harvesting indoor lighting
Summary
As the global population continues to increase, the resulting energy demands have escalated, along with concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Of the PV technologies, crystalline silicon (Si)-based PV systems have dominated the global PV market over the past ve decades This is largely because of their bene cial features such as efficient electricity generation under full sunlight, good photovoltaic performance stability in all climatic conditions, as well as the maturity around their research and development (R&D) activities and associated material value chain. He is currently a PhD student at the Microelectronics Research Unit of the Faculty of Information Technology & Electrical Engineering, University of Oulu – Finland His current research focuses on the use of new materials as an RF lens. Her research is about ‘Noble metal bridged ternary systems for promising clean and sustainable energy’ She obtained her MSc degree in Nano Physics at the University of Arak, Iran, in 2017 with a thesis on “Fabrication of metallic ions doped quantum dot sensitized solar cells and improvement of energy conversion efficiency” under the supervision of Prof. This review provides the most upto-date viewpoints on the latest research trends that have emerged during the development of the generation of DSSC technology
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