Costly metals in some solar cells could be replaced by cheap resins, according to Korean research.
Dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are an important class of solar cells, which demonstrate a number of important attributes, such as low cost, flexibility and good efficiency. It is perhaps the most actively researched solar cell technology. However, it is still hindered by expensive components.
Currently, a third of the cost of DSSCs could go towards the noble metal-based dyes used to sensitise the titania photocatalyst, allowing it to harvest the more useful visible part of the spectrum. However, Wonyong Choi and his group at Pohang University of Science and Technology have replaced these dyes with a simple and cheap phenolic resin.
Read more in Chemistry World or read Choi’s communication in ChemComm.
