The first application of a cobalt(II)/(III) tris(2,2’-bipyridine)-based aqueous electrolyte in the fabrication of dye-sensitised solar cells has been carried out by scientists from Australia. In their Energy & Environmental Science paper, they report very high efficiency for an aqueous dye sensitised solar cell.
Cobalt(II)/(III) tris(2,2’-bipyridine)-based electrolytes have been used previously in liquid electrolytes using organic solvents. But, the disadvantages with these types of electrolytes are a high vapour pressure and they are not environmentally friendly.
Electrolytes based on ionic liquids, plastic crystals and solid state conductors have been explored but the ingress of moisture in these systems affects their stability.
Electrolytes based on water are attracting attention as water is cheap, abundant, non-toxic and non-flammable.
Read this exciting research article today:
Aqueous dye-sensitized solar cell electrolytes based on the cobalt(II)/(III) tris(bipyridine) redox couple
Leone Spiccia
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23317G
