Dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) have been attracted increasing interest recently as an alternative to conventional silicon-based solar cells, owing to their relatively high conversion efficiencies and low manufacturing costs.
In DSSC devices, dye aggregation on the TiO2 electrode is one of the most serious problems, which leads to a reduced device performance. Conventional solutions involve cumbersome optimisation processes and increased production costs, so a simple solution for the problem is required.
Scientists in Japan and China have reported an aggregation-free branch-type organic dye with a twisting pi-conjugate architecture. They compare it with an analogue dye possessing a planar molecular structure. The influences of deoxycholic acid co-adsorption are investigated, and it is found that the twisting dye has excellent potential as an aggregation-free dye.
Read the ‘HOT’ EES article hot off the press:
Aggregation-free branch-type organic dye with a twisted molecular architecture for dye-sensitized solar cells
Youhei Numata, Ashraful Islam, Han Chen and Liyuan Han
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22506A
