Indoor Light Harvesting Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Surpassing 30% Efficiency without Co-sensitizers

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are proved to be one among the best photovoltaic approach for harnessing indoor/artificial light. Herein, we report two new molecularly engineered cost-effective metal-free carbazole based D-π-A...

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Bio-inspired artificial light-harvesting antennas for enhancement of solar energy capture in dye-sensitized solar cells

Energy & Environmental Science ◽

10.1039/c3ee24229c ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 2041 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Fabrice Odobel ◽

Yann Pellegrin ◽

Julien Warnan

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Energy ◽

Light Harvesting ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Energy Capture ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

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An Efficient Metal-Free Hydrophilic Carbon as a Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2016/5186762 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mojgan Kouhnavard ◽

Norasikin Ahmad Ludin ◽

Babak Vazifehkhah Ghaffari ◽

Kamaruzzaman Sopian ◽

Norshazlinah Abdul Karim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Counter Electrode ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Cost Effective ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Metal Free ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

This study presents a new cost-effective metal-free counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). CE was prepared by doctor blading a hydrophilic carbon (HC) particle on a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate. Thereafter, HC CE was characterized using X-ray diffraction, profilometry, four-point probe testing, and cyclic voltammetry. A 2 µm thick HC CE revealed a comparable catalytic activity to that of the Pt electrode under the same experimental conditions. DSSC based on HC CE was analyzed and showedJscof 6.87 mA/cm2close to that of DSSC with Pt CE (7.0 mA/cm2). More importantly, DSSC based on HC CE yielded a power conversion efficiency (η) of 2.93% under AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW/cm2), which was comparable to that of DSSC based on standard Pt CE. These findings suggest that HC CE could be a promising CE for low-cost DSSCs.

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Study of Light Harvesting Properties of Different Classes of Metal-Free Organic Dyes in TiO2Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Journal of Energy ◽

10.1155/2014/517574 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ratna Chauhan ◽

Reena Kushwaha ◽

Lal Bahadur

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Light Harvesting ◽

Organic Dyes ◽

Electronic Absorption Spectra ◽

Action Spectrum ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Visible Region ◽

Metal Free ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

In dye-sensitized solar cells, the photosensitization of TiO2thin film semiconductor was accomplished by using different classes of metal-free (fluorone, triarymethane, azo and thiazine based) organic dyes as photosensitizer. The broad electronic absorption spectra of these dyes have been obtained in the visible region due to the presence of chromophoric groups in these dyes. The contribution of these dyes as light harvesting species is seen from the photocurrent action spectrum of the cell. Here, we report the sensitization activity of these dyes in terms of current-potential curve, open-circuit potential, fill factor, IPCE, and overall solar energy conversion efficiency which have been evaluated under 100 mW/cm2light intensity. The results suggest that dyes based on fluorone and azo groups are promising candidates for high performance, dye-sensitized solar cells because of better anchoring groups (–COOH, –OH, and –SO3-) present in these dyes. Better anchorage of dyes to the surface of TiO2semiconductor helps in charge transfer phenomenon.

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