Efficient Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Research Articles

Improved efficiency and stability of dye-sensitized solar cells by using iodide-based electrolyte with high viscosity solvent

Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performance with a liquid electrolyte depends strongly on the choice of electrolyte solvent. Acetonitrile (AN) is the most widely used organic solvent due to its low viscosity and good solubility to dissolve iodide salts. However, the stability has become critical due to the high vapor pressure of AN. In this study, the efficiency and stability of DSSC using iodide-based electrolyte were observed by using high viscosity solvents namely dimethylformamide (DMF) and γ-butyrolactone (GBL). The cell using DMF shows the best performance with an efficiency of 7.69 %, higher than that of the cell with commercial AN-based electrolyte with an efficiency of 7.14 %. Impedance spectroscopy measurement to the cell using DMF reveals a relatively low charge transfer resistance, both at TiO2-dye/electrolyte and counter electrode/electrolyte interfaces, compared to other solvents. Furthermore, the efficiency is retained at 76 % after 4 weeks of storage under ambient air, the best among various solvents tested in the present study.

Effect of Photoanode Process Sequence on Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Owing to its contribution to carbon emission reduction, green energy has received widespread attention. Among green energy sources, solar energy is regarded as the most important. In solar energy production, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been favored owing to their characteristics of simple manufacturing and high efficiency as a third-generation solar cell technology. DSSCs are prospective candidates for powering indoor Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In this study, to find a method to enhance DSSCs’ efficiency, the advantages and disadvantages of the screen printing method and the mechanical pressing and annealing method were analyzed. Using an improved method, a TiO2 photoanode was processed and annealed, and the DSSCs with the photoanode showed an efficiency increase from 1.10 to 4.78%.

Enhanced Indoor Conversion Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Optimizing Ball-Milling Process of TiO2 Paste

The rapid spread of the Internet of Things (IoT) along with the development of innovative low-power electronic devices has also driven the development of indoor photovoltaics. In this paper, we propose a simple and economically feasible solution that can improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) under indoor light conditions by ~112%, without requiring a complex TiO2 photoanode architecture or the design of new dyes. The ball milling process of the TiO2 paste was optimized for indoor light conditions for the first time, both in terms of efficiency and production costs, by developing a rapid preparation method that can be used industrially for the application of DSSCs. A simple use of 12 mm diameter balls caused beneficial structural modifications, decreasing the size of the crystallites, and leading to a high OH generation on the TiO2 surface responsible for the improvement of energy conversion efficiency.

Development of organic co-sensitizers based on piperonal for over 10% efficient ruthenium complex dye-sensitized solar cells

In this study, two new piperonal-based organic dyes, designated D-1–2, were synthesized for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The dyes studied have a D-π-A configuration and have undergone molecular engineering to fine-tune their spectral properties and energy levels. A comprehensive analysis involving both experimental and theoretical approaches was performed to investigate their optical, electrochemical, photovoltaic, geometrical, and electronic features. These newly developed dyes exhibit notably strong UV–vis absorption, with high molar extinction coefficients, making them an attractive option as co-sensitizers for ruthenium-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Co-sensitization at a concentration of 0.2 mM resulted in a significant increase in the PCEs of DSSCs, ranging from 7.90 % to 10.43 %, compared to the PCE of 7.31 % for DSSCs sensitized solely with N719. The improvement in PCEs can be attributed to the enhanced JCSS and Voc achieved through co-sensitization, highlighting the potential benefits of utilizing co-sensitizers to develop more efficient DSSCs. The highest PCE achieved was 10.43 %, with a Jsc of 19.05 mA.cm−2 and a VOC of 750 mV for the mixed co-sensitizers (D-1 + D-2 + N719). These findings indicate that cocktail co-sensitization is a promising strategy for constructing efficient D-π-A-type sensitizers and for evaluating the performance of DSSCs. Additionally, incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies provide insights into the mechanisms responsible for these improvements. Based on the IPCE study, the increase in Jsc during co-sensitization is due to less photocurrent loss from the electrolyte. EIS experiments showed that making a monolayer of sensitizers that was denser and more organized probably led to less electron recombination between the injected electrons and the electrolyte. This could be because the dyes were absorbed more. The findings of this study suggest that D-1–2 co-sensitizers might be game-changers in the development of more effective DSSCs. In addition, this investigation provides crucial information regarding the underlying systems.

Highly Efficient DSSCs Sensitized Using NIR Responsive Bacteriopheophytine-a and Its Derivatives Extracted from Rhodobacter Sphaeroides Photobacteria.

Employing naturally extracted dyes and their derivatives as photosensitizers towards the construction of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been recently emerging for establishing sustainable energy conversion devices. In this present work, Rhodobacter Sphaeroides Photobacteria (Rh. Sphaeroides) was used as a natural source from which Bacteriopheophytine-a (Bhcl) dye was extracted. Further, two cationic derivatives of Bhcl, viz., Guanidino-bacteriopheophorbide-a (Gua-Bhcl) and (2-aminoethyl)triphenylphosphono-bacteriopheophorbide-a (2AETPPh-Bhcl) were synthesized. The thus obtained Bhcl, Gua-Bhcl and 2AETPPh-Bhcl were characterized using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and their photophysical properties were investigated using excitation and emission studies. All three near-infrared (NIR) responsive dyes were employed as natural sensitizers towards the construction of DSSC devices, using platinum as a photocathode, dye-sensitized P25-TiO2 as a photoanode and I-/I3- as an electrolyte. DSSCs fabricated using all three dyes have shown reasonably good photovoltaic performance, among which 2AETPPh-Bhcl dye has shown a relatively higher power conversion efficiency (η) of 0.38% with a short circuit photocurrent density (JSC) of 1.03 mA cm-2. This could be attributed to the dye's natural optimal light absorption in the visible and NIR region and uniform dispersion through the electrostatic interaction of the cationic derivatives on the TiO2 photoanode. Furthermore, the atomic force microscopy studies and electrochemical investigations using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Bode's plot also supported the enhancement in performance attained with 2AETPPh-Bhcl dye.

Effects of fused thiophene Π-bridge on the electronic and optical properties of modified theaflavin natural dye

ABSTRACT Natural dye sensitizers are substances that are sensitive to light colour and can be classified into several classes based on their chemical structure. Theaflavin pigments are unexplored natural dyes used as light sensitizers derived from black tea waste. However, the efficiency of natural dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) is lower than that of synthetic ones. To increase the efficiency, an amine donor molecule, a thiophene bridge, and a cyanoacrylic acid anchoring group were added. This improvement was achieved by comparing the LHE values, absorption shifts towards the red spectrum, and electronic parameters before and after modification of the theaflavin structure. This study aimed to analyze the effect of a fused thiophene bridge on the colour pigment of theaflavin on the electronic and optical properties of DSSC. TDDFT was employed with the hybrid functional B3LYP and def2-SVP. The calculated results concluded that adding fused thiophene can shift the wavelength with a maximum value of 256 nm and an increase in LHE of 40%. The addition of five thiophenes can shift the absorption wavelength closer to the red spectrum and satisfy the electronic properties of the DSSC, and the number of electron donor and acceptor sites obeying the law of conservation of charge.

Computational studies of the influence of auxiliary acceptors in the D-A'-π-A structure of organic dyes on the photovoltaic performance of dye solar cells.

A series of five organic dyes (Mi, i = 1-5) of the D-A'-π-A structure were designed based on reference dye (Ref), and the influence of different auxiliary acceptors (A') on their efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Was studied theoretically using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods. In this context, the electronic structures, optical properties, and the parameters influencing the power conversion efficiency (PCE), such as light harvesting efficiency (LHE), electron injection driving force (∆Ginject.), and open circuit photo-voltage (VOC), have been evaluated and discussed.The modification of the auxiliary acceptor (A') in the D-A'-π-A structure of the designed organic dyes has the advantage of significantly decreasing the band gap, which leads to the broadening of the absorption band that is red-shifted and improves the photovoltaic characteristics compared to Ref. Theoretical results reveal that M1, and M5 can be used as excellent sensitizer candidates for DSSC applications.

Novel cyano functional small molecule photosensitizers with amplified electron injection and photovoltaic attributes: molecular modelling towards efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe exploration of novel photosensitizers with reverberant optoelectronic features for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is a frontline area of research. In this respect, attempts have been made to design a series of novel organic dyes (JFK‐1–JFK‐10) with D‐π‐A framework by π‐spacer modification strategy. The suitability of developed sensitizers for DSSCs applications is confirmed by executing natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, transition density matrix (TDM) analysis, frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis, density of state (DOS) analysis, binding energy (Eb), electron regeneration energy (ΔGreg), free energy of injection (ΔGinject), electronic coupling constant (VRP), and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) parameters qCT (e‐), DCT (Å), H index (Å), ∆(Å), t index (Å), μCT (D).RESULTSThe calculated results of these analyses show that replacing the thiophene (B0) π‐spacer with extended conjugated thiazole and thiophene as a π‐spacer (B1‐B10) results in significantly lowered FMO energy levels, broader λmax values, and ICT parameters respectively. All the proposed dyes could be used as excellent sensitizers for DSSCs; the B9 spacer in JFK‐9 makes JFK‐9 a highly efficient candidate for the high‐efficiency of DSSCs due to promising photovoltaic characteristics, like the reduced Egap (4.386 eV), longer λmax(427.989 nm), longer excited state lifetimes (1.483 ns), a lower ΔGreg (1.807 eV), a greater dipole moment of (9.475 D), and large qCT (0.546), LHE (0.981), and eVOC (1.729 eV).CONCLUSIONThe fabricated dyes’ (F1‐F9) photoelectronic and chemical transfer parameters near the titania‐electrolyte interface (dyes@TiO2) proved have better accumulation and recombination of dyes@TiO2 model. The adsorption energies calculated of all compounds provide a deep insight into adsorption and charge transfer to a semiconductor TiO2 conduction band. Hence, these modeled dyes (JFK‐1‐JFK‐10) could be used as efficient DSSCs and open new avenues for researchers to synthesize high‐performance DSSCs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Efficient flexible dye-sensitized solar cells from rear illumination based on different morphologies of titanium dioxide photoanode

The TiO2 with nanoparticles (NPs), nanowires (NWs), nanorods (NRs) and nanotubes (NTs) structures were prepared by using a in-situ hydrothermal technique, and then proposed as a photoanode for flexible dye-sensitized solar cell (FDSSC). The influences of the morphology of TiO2 on the photovoltaic performances of FDSSCs were investigated. Under rear illumination of 100 mW·cm−2, the power conversion efficiencies of FDSSCs achieved 6.96%, 7.36%, 7.65%, and 7.83% with the TiO2 photoanodes of NPs, NWs, NRs, and NTs and PEDOT counter electrode. The FDSSCs based on TiO2 NRs and NTs photoanodes have higher short circuit current densities and power conversion efficiencies than that of the others. The enhanced power conversion efficiency is responsible for their nanotubes and rod-shaped ordered structures, which are more beneficial to transmission of electron and hole in semiconductor compared to the TiO2 nanoparticles and nanowires disordered structure.

Natural dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs): An overview of extraction, characterization and performance

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have emerged as a promising technology for solar energy conversion due to their affordability and adaptability. Natural dyes derived from various botanical and fruit sources are gaining attention as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic counterparts in DSSCs. This comprehensive review offers insights into the extraction techniques, characterization methods and effectiveness of natural dyes as sensitizers in DSSCs. Moreover, it examines the variables impacting the efficiency of DSSCs using natural dyes and investigates strategies to enhance their overall performance. By presenting this comprehensive overview, the paper aims to underscore the viability of natural dyes for DSSCs, promoting continued exploration and advancement in this area of research.

Enhanced efficiency of the azo dye-sensitized solar cell via the cooperation of graphene oxide and graphene oxide/polypyrrole: Experimental and computational studies

Five azo compounds with different electron-donating/withdrawing groups were synthesized and investigated for electrochemical behaviors as sensitizer in solar cells. Based on results, a combination with stronger electron-withdrawing/anchor group (NO2, CN) and a wider light absorption range (300-700 nm) led to the better performance of solar cell. Besides, computational studies, with B3LYP/6-311G(d) level of theory was used to study the electrochemical behavior of dyes in DSSCs. The results of the calculation of band gap energy, HOMO/LUMO energy levels, absorption spectrum, and the electron injection from the dye to the semiconductor showed that the calculated data are in good agreement with the experimental data. Based on theoretical and experimental data, azo 3 (2-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl) diazenyl)-5-nitrobenzonitrile), with 0.177% power conversion efficiency (PCE), showed better photovoltaic performance among other dyes. To improve cell performance, graphene oxide (GO) and polypyrrole (PPy) were used due to their unique electrochemical properties. Based on results, GO and GO/PPy with azo dyes significantly enhanced cell performance in a range of (128-266%) and (153-372%), respectively. As expected, GO/PPy performed better than GO due to the presence of polypyrrole, which increases the photocurrent. Hence, these modified sensitizers have a significant influence on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells, which can be used to fabricate high-performance DSSCs in the future.

Suppression of Charge Recombination by Vertical Arrangement of A Donor Moiety on Flat Planar Dyes for Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

In dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), flat planar dyes (e. g., highly light-harvesting porphyrins and corroles) with multiple anchoring groups are known to adopt a horizontal orientation on TiO2 through the multiple binding to TiO2. Due to the strong electronic coupling between the dye and TiO2, fast charge recombination between the oxidized dye and an electron in TiO2 occurs, lowering the power conversion efficiency (η). To overcome this situation, an additional donor moiety can be placed on top of the planar dye on TiO2 to slow down the undesirable charge recombination. Here we report the synthesis and photovoltaic properties of a triarylamine (TAA)-tethered gold(III) corrole (TAA-AuCor). The DSSC with TAA-AuCor using iodine redox shuttle exhibited the highest η-value among corrole-based DSSCs, which is much higher than that with the reference AuCor. The transient absorption spectroscopies clearly demonstrated that fast electron transfer from the TAA moiety to the corrole radical cation in TAA-AuCor competes with the undesirable charge recombination to generate long-lived charge separated state TAA⋅+-Cor/TiO2⋅- efficiently. Consequently, the introduction of the TAA moiety enhanced the η-value remarkably, demonstrating the usefulness of our new concept to manipulate charge-separated states toward highly efficient DSSCs.

Fabrication of efficient natural dye-sensitized Solar Cells using Mediterranean olive leaves as natural dye sensitizer

The synthesis of synthetic dyes employed in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is often associated with substantial costs and environmental concerns. As a result, there is growing interest in utilizing natural dyes as sensitizers for DSSCs. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the extraction of natural dyes from Mediterranean olive leaves using a methanol-based solution, with a particular focus on the impact of different drying times during the dye extraction process on the efficiency of fabricated solar cells. The extracted olive leaf dyes were systematically characterized, encompassing their optical properties analyzed through ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, electrochemical behavior, photovoltaic performance, crystallographic and morphological structures, as well as elemental composition. The research findings unveiled distinctive attributes of the olive leaf dyes, attributable to variations in their charge transfer processes to the band edge of the TiO2 semiconductor. These outcomes were substantiated through comprehensive analyses involving UV–Vis, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Notably, the olive leaf dye subjected to a longer drying time (referred to as OLDS1) exhibited an energy level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) closer to that of the conduction band of TiO2, facilitating efficient electron transfer. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed alterations in elemental composition upon dye adsorption onto the TiO2 surface, with a notable reduction in the intensities of the Ti 2p and O 1 s peaks. The OLDS1 dye demonstrated lower charge transfer resistance and recombination rates compared to the shorter drying time for both fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and indium-doped tin oxide (ITO)-based natural DSSCs (NDSSCs). Importantly, the choice of substrate material, specifically FTO and ITO, significantly influenced the NDSSC performance. The FTO/TiO2/OLDS1 configuration exhibited remarkable characteristics, including a high fill factor (FF) of approximately 0.73 and an efficiency of 0.31 %, accompanied by a short-circuit current density of 0.662 mA/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage of 0.642 V. These results highlight the crucial role of drying time and substrate selection in the fabrication of NDSSCs utilizing Mediterranean olive leaf extracts, with the FTO/TiO2/OLDS1 configuration emerging as the most promising and efficient combination.

Optimization Thickness of Photoanode Layer and Membrane as Electrolyte Trapping Medium for Improvement Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) are photovoltaic devices that contain a dye that acts as a solar light acceptor. The use of dyesensitized solar cells to solve increasing energy demand and environmental problems still results in low efficiency values. In this study, optimization of DSSC components was carried out to increase DSSC efficiency by varying the thickness of the titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor photoanode layer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) trap electrolyte membrane, and polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber (PVDF NF) to obtain the optimum thickness. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results of membrane thickness variation and titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor photoanode coating showed the formation of nanofiber fibers composed of three-dimensional, porous, and diameter networks connected to the PVDF NF membrane. The increase in density and decrease in pore size, along with an increase in thickness and cracking as the TiO2 photoanode semiconductor layer increases, affect the electron transport rate of the DSSC. The higher particle density level will inhibit the electron transport rate, so it can reduce the efficiency of DSSC. The optimum thickness of the TiO2 semiconductor layer and PVDF NF electrolyte membrane of 0.20 mm and 0.35 mm can produce values, voltage, fill factor current density, and electrical efficiency of 500 mV, 2.7 x 10−3 mA.cm−2, 1.80%, and 2.40%, respectively.

Integrating Light Diffusion and Conversion Layers for Highly Efficient Multicolored Fiber-Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Fiber solar cells as promising wearable power supplies have attracted increasing attentions recently, while further breakthrough on their power conversion efficiency (PCE) and realization of multicolored appearances remain urgent needs particularly in real-world applications. Here, a fiber-dye-sensitized solar cell (FDSSC) integrated with a light diffusion layer composed of alumina/polyurethane film on the outmost encapsulating tube and a light conversion layer made from phosphors/TiO2/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) film on the inner counter electrode is designed. The incident light is diffused to more surfaces of fiber electrodes, then converted on counter electrode and reflected to neighboring photoanode, so the FDSSC efficiently takes advantage of the fiber shape for remarkably enhanced light harvesting, producing a record PCE of 13.11%. These efficient FDSSCs also realize color-tunable appearances, improving their designability and compatibility with textiles. They are further integrated with fiber batteries as power systems, providing a power solution for wearables and emerging smart textiles.

Ni and P co-doped WS2 nanosheets decorated on MWCNTs as an efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Designing of inexpensive and robust counter electrode (CE) material without noble metals is of great essential for improving the overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, nickel (Ni) and phosphorus (P) co-doped WS2 nanosheets decorated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ni/P-WS2 @MWCNTs) was fabricated via single-step hydrothermal method and used as CE for DSSC. According to the electrochemical studies, the Ni/P-WS2 @MWCNTs CE displayed remarkable catalytic activities, great electron transfer ability, and high durability in the I−/I3− electrolyte. More importantly, the device equipped with Ni/P-WS2 @MWCNTs CE yielded an outstanding PCE of 8.62%, surpassing that of standard Pt (PCE=6.61%) and other corresponding counterparts. Such notable photovoltaic performance can be ascribed to the synergistic coupling effect of heteroatom doping and support role of conductive carbon network, which offer abundant catalytic active sites, high porosity, and exceptional electrical conductivity. Our work suggests a novel strategy to fabricate Pt-like CE materials based on metal and nonmetal heteroatoms co-doped in metal chalcogenides with excellent performances for large-scale energy conversion devices to reach the consumer market.

Construction of magnetic Fe2P2O7/Ni2P@Mxene composite counter electrode for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Exploring an effective synthesis method for preparing platinum (Pt)-free counter electrode (CE) catalysts with low-cost, superior catalytic ability and electrochemical stability is essential for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work, the synthesis of Fe2P2O7/Ni2P was realized through hydrothermal treatment of Fe2P2O7/Ni2P precursor and followed phosphorization process. Next, the Fe2P2O7/Ni2P@Mxene composite was prepared by physical grinding with different contents of Ti3C2 Mxene. The Fe2P2O7/Ni2P@Mxene CE exhibits the most excellent catalytic reduction ability and the fine charge-transfer resistance of 1.0 Ω cm2 for the reduction of triiodide electrolyte with 80 wt% Ti3C2 Mxene, which has surpassed the Pt CE. As consequence, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of 9.29 % is achieved for the DSSC with the Fe2P2O7/Ni2P@Mxene CE under the optimized conditions, which is much higher than that of the DSSC Pt-based (7 %). Its high conductivity, prefect catalytic activity, and their synergistic effects of Fe2P2O7/Ni2P and Ti3C2 Mxene towards iodide/triiodide electrolyte of the Fe2P2O7/Ni2P@Mxene CE play an important role in the generation of high efficiency for the cells.

Slow hole diffusion limits the efficiency of p-type dye-sensitized solar cells based on the P1 dye.

NiO electrodes are widely applied in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and photoelectrochemical cells, but due to excessive charge recombination, the efficiencies of these devices are still too low for commercial applications. To understand which factors induce charge recombination, we studied electrodes with a varying number of NiO layers in benchmark P1 p-DSSCs. We obtained the most efficient DSSCs with four layers of NiO (0.134%), and further insights into this optimum were obtained via dye loading studies and in operando photoelectrochemical immittance spectroscopy. These results revealed that more NiO layers led to an increasing light harvesting efficiency (η LH), but a decreasing hole collection efficiency (η CC), giving rise to the maximum efficiency at four NiO layers. The decreasing η CC with more NiO layers is caused by longer hole collection times, which ultimately limits the overall efficiency. Notably, the recombination rates were independent of the number of NiO layers, and similar to those observed in the more efficient n-type DSSC analogues, but hole collection was an order of magnitude slower. Therefore, with more NiO layers, the beneficial increase in η LH can no longer counteract the decrease in η CC due to slow hole collection, resulting in the overall efficiency of the solar cells to maximize at four NiO layers.

Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell of Silicon Dioxide–Titanium Dioxide Photoanode With Polypyrrole/Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Low‐Cost Counter Electrode

To produce a better connection and greater electron transfer efficiency between the TiO2 particles, as well as to eliminate agglomeration and increase the dispersion of TiO2 powders, a silicon dioxide/titanium dioxide (SiO2/TiO2) nanocomposite has been used as a photoanode in this study. An attempt was made to construct dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) at a low cost with reasonable efficiency by replacing the highly costly platinum counter electrode with polypyrrole/sodium dodecyl sulfate (PPy + SDS) as Counter Electrode 1 (C1) and PPy/SDS/multiwalled carbon nanotube (PPy + SDS + MWCNT) as Counter Electrode 2 (C2), using Ru‐based dyes Z907, pomegranate (Pom) dye, arugula (Aru) dye, and hibiscus dye as photosensitizers. The working electrode composite was deposited on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass using a thermal chemical spraying approach, while the counter electrodes were produced using an electropolymerization method. The structural and optical characteristics are fully examined using several characterization techniques such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The photovoltaic properties of the constructed DSSCs were assessed under light irradiation (100 mW/cm2). When compared to the reference cell based on the Pt counter electrode, which has an efficiency of 8.4%, the measured current–voltage (I–V) curve shows that the efficiency of DSSC in the case of Z907 dye with C1 and C2 was 3.037% and 3.743%, respectively. This suggests that the low‐cost prepared DSSCs have good efficiency. Natural dyes show an efficiency range of 1.317%–0.66%, which indicates a moderate level of sensitivity.

Enhanced efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells via controlled thickness of the WO3 Langmuir–Blodgett blocking layer in the Debye length regime

Controlled thickness of the WO3 Langmuir–Blodgett blocking layer in the Debye length regime improves device efficiency.