Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Research Articles

Structural Engineering of π-Linker Aromaticity in Anthanthrene-Based Dyes with D–π–A Configuration: DFT Investigation to Enhance Charge Transfer in DSSCs

The development of efficient dyes for photon harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is a critical area of research with the potential to enhance renewable energy technologies. This manuscript presents a novel approach to engineering dye structures (abbreviated as D2 dye features, an anthanthrene core with a resonance energy of ER = 694 kJ/mol and a reported power conversion efficiency (η) of 5.27%) by systematically replacing an anthanthrene core with various aromatic cores, aiming to understand the influence of resonance energy on molecular performance. By designing seven new dyes with resonance energies ranging from 255 to 529 kJ/mol, we conducted in-depth computational studies using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) to explore the effects of π-aromatic linkers on their electronic properties. Our findings reveal key insights into intermolecular charge-transfer (ICT) mechanisms and how they relate to the resonance energy of dye cores, highlighting the significance of balanced charge mobilities in optimizing optoelectronic characteristics, as shown by the D9 dye with a naphthacene core.

Influence of cobalt redox couple concentration on the characteristics of liquid and quasi-solid electrolytes and on the photovoltaic parameters of dye-sensitised solar cells

Influence of cobalt redox couple concentration on the characteristics of liquid and quasi-solid electrolytes and on the photovoltaic parameters of dye-sensitised solar cells

Photoionization-induced charge separation for efficient solar energy conversion.

The most important primary process in solar energy conversion systems is photo-induced charge separation. This Perspective summarizes our current understanding of the photoionization-induced charge separation process, which involves the transfer of an electron from a discrete to a continuous electronic state with particular emphasis on the threshold energy and efficiency of photoionization. Based on our understanding of alkane solutions and in aromatic organic crystals, the charge separation mechanism in dye-sensitized solar cells is discussed as a photoionization-induced solar energy conversion system.

Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells

Green synthesis of metal oxides has attracted attention as the latest technology in synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles due to its simplicity, cheapness, non-toxicity and its ability for large scale production. Metal oxides find applications in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as counter electrodes (CEs) and photo-anodes. However, applications of green synthesized metal oxides as counter electrodes have not been fully explored. In this study, CuO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract and applied as a CE in DSSC. Uniformly synthesized CuO NPs were subjected to various characterization tools to obtain the crystal structure, surface morphology, particle size, optical properties, chemical bonds and photovoltaic properties. Using a natural dye from of Cucurbita maxima as a photon absorber, a short circuit current density ( Jsc) of 4.2 µA/cm2, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.17 V, a maximum power (Pmax) of 0.18 mW/cm2, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.8 × 10?4 % under one-sun illumination were obtained.

Numerical modeling of charge transfer and recombination kinetics in the dye-sensitized solar cell: Conceptual integration of optics, electricity, and electrochemistry

Numerical modeling of charge transfer and recombination kinetics in the dye-sensitized solar cell: Conceptual integration of optics, electricity, and electrochemistry

Optimising microalgal dyes extraction design for stable dye-sensitized solar cells: Chromatographic insights on bio-deterioration and longevity.

The demand for sustainable energy solutions has increased interest in natural microalgal dyes as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This study addresses the critical issue of maximizing dye integrity and yield during extraction, particularly the degradation that occurs at temperatures above 60°C. Our investigation of dye extraction from Asterarcys quadricellulare and Scenedesmus sp. using hot solvent methods revealed significant findings. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified essential pigments, including Chlorophyllide a and β-carotene. Our research found that temperatures above 60°C reduce chlorophyll (Chl) stability and extraction efficiency. Using multiple wavelengths in a photodiode array (PDA) detector improves Chl identification by targeting distinct absorption peaks, resolving overlap with other compounds, and confirming purity. This approach also helps validate extraction methods and ensures accurate quantification. Since high temperatures are detrimental to Chl stability, this method is crucial for reliable analysis and longer dye storage. Ethanol outperformed methanol in extraction efficiency, while the stability of the dyes was tied to specific derivatives. Notably, Scenedesmus sp. showed better preservation of chlorophyll compounds, influenced by extraction temperature and solvent characteristics. This research underscores the potential for optimising natural dye extraction methods, offering a pathway to enhance the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of DSSC production, thus contributing to greener energy technologies.

Synthesis of novel advanced squaraine dyes for improved efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells

Synthesis of novel advanced squaraine dyes for improved efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells

Efficiency enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells through neodymium-doped graphene quantum dot-modified TiO₂ photoanodes

Efficiency enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells through neodymium-doped graphene quantum dot-modified TiO₂ photoanodes

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) with Polyaniline-Decorated FeCo2O4 Counter Electrodes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Analysis

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) with Polyaniline-Decorated FeCo2O4 Counter Electrodes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Analysis

High-performance Cu-based PEO/PVDF-HPF gel polymer electrolyte of semi-transparent dye-sensitized solar cells

Semi-transparent dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have emerged as promising candidates in the application such as building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and agrivoltaics, which are expected to integrate the advantages of high efficiency, suitable light transmittance and long-term stability. The recently-developed copper (Cu) redox couples have significantly enhanced the performance of DSCs. However, achieving high-performance Cu-based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) for semi-transparent DSCs remains a challenge due to the diffusion issue of bulky Cu redox couples. Herein, we adopted a polymer blending strategy to reduce the diffusion limitation of Cu redox couples in GPE, which achieved high efficiency of 8.34 % in DSCs. The optimised Cu-based poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)/poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HPF) GPE exhibited an apparent diffusion coefficient (Dapp) that was twice as high as that of GPE prepared with PEO and significantly enhanced stability compared to DSCs using liquid electrolytes. Further combined with a 1.2 μm photoanode, a good average visible light transmittance (AVT) of 30.1 % was obtained. The semi-transparent DSCs demonstrated potential in agrivoltaics. Our work suggests the applicability of polymer blending strategy in exploring high-performance GPEs with large-size redox couples, and provides a reference for developing high-performance, semi-transparent DSCs.

PEDOT:PSS polymer functionalized carbon nanotubes integrated with graphene oxide and titanium dioxide counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

PEDOT:PSS polymer functionalized carbon nanotubes integrated with graphene oxide and titanium dioxide counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Phenothiazine sensitizers bearing benzothiadiazole unit for dye-sensitized solar cells

Phenothiazine sensitizers bearing benzothiadiazole unit for dye-sensitized solar cells

Lignosulfonate-Induced orientation of Poly(3,4-ethlylenedioxythiophene) for enhanced efficiency in bifacial Dye-Sensitized solar cells

Lignosulfonate-Induced orientation of Poly(3,4-ethlylenedioxythiophene) for enhanced efficiency in bifacial Dye-Sensitized solar cells

Thermodynamic and kinetics considerations in the competition between the dye regeneration and the recombination process in dye-sensitized solar cells

Thermodynamic and kinetics considerations in the competition between the dye regeneration and the recombination process in dye-sensitized solar cells

Novel Fullerene-Based Dyes for Solar Cells Applications: Insights from Density Functional Theory and Time Dependent Density Functional Theory Investigations

Fullerene-based organic dyes hold significant promise for advancingsolar cell technologies due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. This study investigates two novel fullerene-based dyes, Fullerene Dye 1 and Fullerene Dye 2 (FD1 and FD2), using Density Functional Theory (DFT)and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory(TD-DFT)to evaluate their potential for solar cell applications. The electronic properties, including the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO), Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO), and HOMO-LUMO (H-L) energy gaps, were analyzed using the B3LYP functional with a 6-31G basis set, incorporating solvation effects with dichloromethane (DCM) in the Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM). FD1 exhibited a HOMO of -5.123 eV, a LUMO of -3.458 eV, and an H-L gap of 1.665 eV, while FD2 showed a slightly larger gap of 1.807 eV with a HOMO of -5.261 eV and a LUMO of -3.454 eV. Time-dependent DFT analysis revealed maximum absorption wavelengths (𝜆max) of 997.10 nm and 995.16 nm for FD1 and FD2, respectively, with corresponding oscillator strengths of 0.0075 and 0.0048. The light-harvesting efficiencies, LHEs of FD1 and FD2 were 0.018 and 0.012, respectively. Both dyes demonstrated favorable reorganization energy, 𝜆=0.15eV, driving force for charge injection, Δ𝐺inj= 0.542eV for FD1 and 0.546 eV for FD2, and low driving force for charge recombination (Δ𝐺CR), indicating strong potential for efficient charge separation. These findings provide valuable insights into the electronic, optical, and charge transfer properties of fullerene-based dyes, with FD1 exhibiting a more balanced performance. The study highlights the potential of these dyes for enhancing the efficiencies of organic, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and provides a foundation for future experimental validation and optimization.

Exploring the impact of substituents on the photophysical properties of boron dipyrromethene dyes for enhanced photovoltaic performance

Abstract Boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes are known for their strong fluorescence and excellent photostability, making them vital for various photoelectric applications. This study explores how different substituents affect the photophysical properties of BODIPY dyes to improve their performance in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We examine six distinct BODIPY dye structures with unique electron-withdrawing (NO2, CHO, Br) and electron-donating (OCH3, NPh2) substituents, along with a hydrogen-substituted variant, and report key photovoltaic parameters, including open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and energy conversion efficiency (Ω). Using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT), we analyze the dyes’ light-harvesting efficiency, electron injection efficiency, and overall energy conversion efficiency. Our results indicate that electron-donating groups, especially NPh2 and OCH3, significantly enhance Voc, Jsc, FF, and Ω, leading to improved energy conversion efficiencies. In contrast, while electron-withdrawing substituents increase chemical stability, they typically result in lower photovoltaic performance. This research underscores the importance of strategic substituent selection in optimizing BODIPY dyes for enhanced photoelectric performance, offering valuable insights for designing efficient photovoltaic materials.

A Sustainable Hydrogel‐Based Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Coupled to an Integrated Supercapacitor for Direct Indoor Light‐Energy Storage

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things ecosystem has increased the need for sustainable, cost‐effective energy sources for indoor low‐power devices. Indoor photovoltaics offer a solution by harnessing ambient indoor lighting, with dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) emerging as strong candidates for these applications. When it comes to indoor environments, there is an increased demand for nontoxic and nonflammable solvents for electrolytes. The use of water‐based electrolytes is a promising way to address these issues, while ensuring the eco‐friendliness and sustainability of these devices. Herein, a DSSC system is employed featuring an aqueous gel electrolyte composed of xanthan gum, a biosourced polymer, and an iodide/triiodide redox couple. The performances of the cells are characterized under LED lighting, reaching efficiencies up to 3.5% in indoor conditions, and then integrated with an electric double‐layer capacitor, also based on a xanthan gum gel electrolyte, resulting in a fully aqueous device for indoor light‐energy harvesting and storage with an overall photoelectric conversion and storage efficiency of 1.45%.

Optimizing DSSCs Performance for Indoor Lighting: Matching Organic Dyes Absorption and Indoor Lamps Emission Profiles to Maximize Efficiency.

The rapid proliferation of internet-connected devices has transformed our daily habits prompting a shift towards greater sustainability in renewable energy for indoor applications. Among the various technologies available for obtaining energy in indoor conditions, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) stand out as the most promising due to their ability to efficiently convert ambient light into usable electricity. This study explores how the optimal matching of the UV-Vis absorption spectra of dyes commonly used in DSSCs with the emission profiles of indoor lamps allows for the enhanced efficiency of DSSC under indoor lighting. By testing four organic dyes with different UV-Vis absorption spectra (L1, Y123, S1, and TP1) under two different common indoor light sources (OSRAM 930 and OSRAM 765 lamp), a significant dye-lamp correlation was demonstrated. Notably, low-priced dyes like S1 and TP1, characterized by easier synthetic routes and with an optimal overlap with the dye-lamp spectrum, exhibited competitive efficiencies, narrowing the performance gap with high-performing dyes like Y123, which require more demanding preparation approaches. The study highlights the critical importance of tailoring dye selection to specific indoor lighting environments, addressing a significant gap and paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions for indoor applications.

Polyoxometalates-doped metallic 1T-MoS2 as a high efficiency counter electrode material for solar cells

1T-MoS2 has the potential as a counter electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to its unique energy band electronic structure that gives it metallic properties and a conductivity nearly 107 times higher than that of the common 2H-MoS2. However, the pure phase 1 T-MoS2 has the disadvantages of low catalytic performance and poor thermal stability. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a type of inorganic polymetallic oxygen clusters, which have lots of exposed redox sites and good structural stability. In this article, three different POMs (CoMo6, NiMo6, and FeMo6) have been dispersed and loaded into 1 T-MoS2, which led to a synergistic effect between highly redox-active POMs and highly conductive 1 T-MoS2. Among the three different POMs/MoS2, the DSSCs prepared with FeMo6/MoS2 as the counter electrode material has the optimal Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE), which reaches 6.36% at a doping level of 0.5 mg mL−1 of FeMo6, which is higher than that of Pt (5.94%), and it has a good long-term stability. This work offers a valuable method for the design of composite materials for the reduction of I3 −, and the resulting counter electrode, with its excellent performance and low cost, promotes further industrialization of DSSCs.

Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen-Substituted Graphdiyne on Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Glass Substrates Using a Cu Sandwich Technique.

Hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne (HsGDY) is a two-dimensional material with an sp-sp2 carbon skeleton featuring a band gap and a porous structure that enhances ion diffusion. In previous reports, HsGDY growth was limited to metal substrates such as Cu, which then required transfer. Here, we developed a sandwich method that allows HsGDY to be grown directly on the target substrate. In this sandwich method, a Cu sheet is sandwiched between substrates. By optimizing the Cu sheet structure and growth time, we have succeeded in growing uniform, pinhole-free HsGDY films on FTO substrates. Raman peaks at 2217 cm-1 (-C≡C-) and 883 cm-1 (C-H bond) confirm the formation of HsGDY. Deconvoluted XPS spectra provide clear evidence of sp hybridization at 284.3 eV. Additionally, UV-visible spectra reveal that the band gap of HsGDY is 2.6 eV. This method is promising as an easy way to produce high-quality HsGDY films on arbitrary substrates. Preliminary tests demonstrated the potential application of HsGDY as a cathode material in dye-sensitized solar cells, achieving a maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.19%. These findings pave the way for the scalable, low-temperature synthesis of HsGDY films for advanced applications.