Large Enhancement in short-circuit current densities of dye-sensitized solar cells via photon conversion

Abstract

Converting the solar spectrum to match the absorption properties of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) can reduce spectral losses and thus enhance the photovoltaic performance. In this paper, liquid electrolytes containing Fluorescent Yellow 8G, which could absorb light at around 458 nm and down-convert it to the absorption band of cis-bis(isothiocyanate)-bis(2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylate) ruthenium (N3), are prepared and applied in DSSCs. The short-circuit current density of the DSSC with the optimal concentration of 8G shows an increase of 110.7%, leading to an increase of 88.5% in the overall conversion efficiency, compared to that of the referenced DSSC assembled with the blank electrolyte, which is attributed to the improvement of light harvesting from the solar spectrum range.