Chapter 7 - Recent Advances on Porphyrin Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have received much attention due to their ease of fabrication and low production cost, and particularly their remarkably high efficiency among third-generation solar cells. In DSSCs, photosensitizers play a major role in determining the photovoltaic response and stability. Photosensitizers based on ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes have achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of >11%, but limitations in synthesis and production costs restrict their use. Alternatively, porphyrin sensitizers have been developed, which show efficiencies of up to 13%. Consequently, significant research is being performed on porphyrin-based devices to further improve efficiency and stability toward commercialization. This chapter highlights the recent advances on porphyrin dyes with various substituents at meso- and β-pyrrole positions, donor–π–acceptor approach, fused porphyrins, cosensitization, and their photovoltaic performance. It shows that porphyrin dyes have significant potential in being applied in realistic energy-related devices.