A perspective on using experiment and theory to identify design principles in dye-sensitized solar cells

ABSTRACT

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been the subject of wide-ranging studies for many years because of their potential for large-scale manufacturing using roll-to-roll processing allied to their use of earth abundant raw materials. Two main challenges exist for DSC devices to achieve this goal; uplifting device efficiency from the 12 to 14% currently achieved for laboratory-scale ‘hero’ cells and replacement of the widely-used liquid electrolytes which can limit device lifetimes. To increase device efficiency requires optimized dye injection and regeneration, most likely from multiple dyes while replacement of liquid electrolytes requires solid charge transporters (most likely hole transport materials – HTMs). While theoretical and experimental work have both been widely applied to different aspects of DSC research, these approaches are most effective when working in tandem. In this context, this perspective paper considers the key parameters which influence electron transfer processes in DSC devices using one or more dye molecules and how modelling and experimental approaches can work together to optimize electron injection and dye regeneration.

Graphical Abstract

This paper provides a perspective that theory and experiment are best used in tandem to study DSC devices

KEYWORDS:

• DSC
• Surface engineering
• review
• half-squaraine dyes
• computer modelling

CLASSIFICATION:

• 50 Energy Materials
• 101 Self-assembly / Self-organized materials
• 209 Solar cell / Photovoltaics

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge funding provided by from the Welsh Government for NRN (CPK) and Sêr Cymru (PJH), the European Union and Welsh Government for Sparc II (LF, RA), and from EPSRC EP/M015254/1 (AC, EWJ) and EP/P03165X/1 (DG, SM), the EPSRC UK National Mass Spectrometry Facility at Swansea University and Pilkington-NSG for TEC™ glass.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/M015254/1]; Ser Cymru [Welsh Government]; SPARC II [Welsh Government]; and National Research Network [grant number NRN118].