Indeed, a great deal of research has been conducted to evaluate various WEs, photosensitizers, electrolytes, and CEs, as detailed in Figure 1 and Table 1, and discussed in the following sections.Īdvanced Functional Materials for Photoelectrodes Metal Oxide and Nanocomposite Materials To provide a clear picture of the progress of DSSC research, this review provides a summary of recent advances in the fabrication of DSSC components. Furthermore, high-performance catalysts using composite or functional materials have been developed to promote the greater surface area, low charge-transfer resistance, and cocatalytic activity. Materials, such as conductive allotropes of carbon, graphite, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, as well as amorphous and diamond-like and graphite-like carbon composite films have also significantly advanced this field of research. Since Pt-based CEs exhibit the best electrochemical efficiency, they are commonly used in high-performance DSSCs, but Pt is not the only catalyst that has been studied. The use of an organic disulfide/thiolate (T 2/T −) electrolyte has also been investigated because of its high transmittance and low corrosivity it exhibits higher efficiency and stability than the conventional I 3 -/I − electrolyte. Reducing the corrosive activity of iodide by using the highly stable catalyst materials is therefore a key to realizing the full potential of an I 3 -/I − electrolyte. However, this electrolyte is extremely corrosive to the metal film catalyst of a CE ( Olsen et al., 2000). In DSSCs, an electrolyte based on a tri-iodide/iodide ( I 3 -/I −) mediator provides the best electrochemical efficiency and is widely utilized with a metal catalyst. The sensitizer plays an essential role in light absorption and electron injection into the conduction band of a semiconductor. Recently, dye molecules have been developed from natural and synthetic sources to allow practical implementation and have accordingly attracted the attention of numerous researchers seeking to develop materials with better photosensitizing properties. The development of new photosensitizers for DSSCs is a challenge that is being pursued through investigations at the molecular level. DSSCs consist of three crucial parts: a working electrode (WE) with a photosensitizer, an electrolytic mediator, and a counter electrode (CE). In this article, we review the fabrication of various functional materials and their effects on DSSC performance.ĭye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) represent promising molecular architecture opportunities in the field of energy conversion. A simple and low-cost fabrication process that uses natural products is also considered essential for further large-scale production. The development of intrinsic and functional organic, inorganic, metal oxide, composite, and carbon-based materials has been intensively studied to enhance the efficiency of DSSCs. They are typically composed of three main components: a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate-based working electrode with wide-bandgap semiconductors and dye sensitizer molecules, an electrolytic mediator based on redox couple species, and a TCO-based counter electrode consisting of catalyst materials. 4Center for Alternative Energy Research and Development, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailandĭye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been developed as a promising photovoltaic cell type in recent decades because of their low cost, environmental friendliness, ease of fabrication, and suitability for a wide range of indoor and outdoor applications, especially under diverse shaded and low-light condition.3Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen, Thailand.2Institute of Nanomaterials Research and Innovation for Energy (IN-RIE), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.1Integrated Nanotechnology Research Center, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.Sarawut Tontapha 1,2, Pikaned Uppachai 3,4 * and Vittaya Amornkitbamrung 1,2,4 *
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