Sensitisation in photochemistry and photovoltaics

Abstract

Photovoltaics, or solar cells, are fast growing both with regards to industrialization and research. Globally, the total PV installation is around 40 GW and an annual growth rate of 45% has been experienced over recent years. In the comparison between different photovoltaic technologies a figure of merit is the production cost per peak watt of solar electricity produced. For so called second generation thin film solar cells production costs down to and even below 1 $ W−1peak are reported. To be competitive with conventional energy sources for large-scale electricity production new PV technologies need to aim at production costs below 0.5 $ W−1peak. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) is a molecular solar cell technology which have the potential to achieve production costs below 0.5 $ W−1peak. DSC is based on molecular and nanometer-scale components. Record cell efficiencies of 12%, promising stability data and means of energy efficient production methods have been accomplished. As selling points for the DSC technology the prospect of low-cost investments and fabrication are key features. DSCs offer the possibilities to design solar cells with a large flexibility in shape, color, and transparency.This chapter describes the basic principles of the operation of DSC, the state-of-the-art, the materials development that is currently taking place as well as the potentials for future development.

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• École Polytechnique FR

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