Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Organic Sensitizers with Different Conjugated Linkers: Furan, Bifuran, Thiophene, Bithiophene, Selenophene, and Biselenophene

Six organic dyes with different conjugated linkers such as furan, bifuran, thiophene, bithiophene, selenophene, and biselenophene have been prepared in combination with the dihexyloxy-substituted triphenylamine donor and the cyanoacrylic acid acceptor. In conjunction with an acetonitrile-based electrolyte and a solvent-free ionic liquid electrolyte, these dyes exhibit 6.88-7.77% and 6.39-7.00% efficiencies, respectively. We have demonstrated that furan and selenophene can be employed as building blocks of sensitizers in stable solar cells for the first time. We have also studied the influence of heteroatoms on photocurrents and photovoltages with the aid of quantum calculations and transient photoelectrical decay measurements. Temperature-dependent electrical impedance experiments have shown that a relatively low external quantum efficiency of the dye with biselenophene linker is not related to the charge collection yield in the case of an acetonitrile electrolyte.

An Extremely High Molar Extinction Coefficient Ruthenium Sensitizer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: The Effects of pi-Conjugation Extension

We report a heteroleptic ruthenium complex (007) featuring the electron-rich 5-octyl-2,2'-bis(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) moiety conjugated with 2,2-bipyridine and exhibiting 10.7% power conversion efficiency measured at the AM1.5G conditions, thanks to the enhanced light-harvesting that is closely related to photocurrent. This C107 sensitizer has an extremely high molar extinction coefficient,of 27.4 x 10(3) M-1 cm(-1) at 559 nm in comparison to its analogue C103 (20.5 x 10(3) M-1 cm(-1) at 550 nm) or Z907 (12.2 x 10(3) M(-1)cm(-1) at 521 nm) with the corresponding 5-hexyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiopliene- or nonyl-substituted bipyridyl unit. The augmentation of molar extinction coefficients and the bathochromic shift of low-energy absorption peaks along with the pi-conjugation extension are detailed by TD-DFT calculations. The absorptivity of mesoporous titania films grafted with Z907, C103, or C107 sublinearly increases with the molar extinction coefficient of sensitizers, which is consistent with the finding derived from the surface coverage measurements that the packing density of those sensitizers decreases with the geometric enlargement of ancillary ligands.

Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells using TiO2 nanotube arrays on FTO glass

Highly ordered, vertically oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays were prepared by potentiostatic anodization of titanium on FTO-coated glass substrate and for the first time successfully applied in the fabrication of solid-state dye sensitized solar cells (SSDSCs), giving a power conversion efficiency of 1.67% measured under an irradiation of air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) full sunlight. Furthermore, 3.8% efficiency was reached with a 2.8 mu m thin TiO2 nanotube array film based on a metal free organic dye using ionic liquid electrolyte.

The effects of shell characteristics on the current-voltage behaviors of dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO/TiO2 core/shell arrays

The ZnO/TiO2 core/shell structure was formed through deposition of a TiO2 coating layer on the hydrothermally fabricated ZnO nanorod arrays through radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The effects of the TiO2 shell's characteristics on the current-voltage behaviors of the core/shell-based dye-sensitized solar cells (CS-DSSC) were investigated. As the rates of injection, transfer, and recombination of electrons of such CS-DSSC were affected significantly by the crystallization, morphology, and continuity of the TiO2 shells, the photovoltaic efficiency was accordingly varied remarkably. In addition, the efficiency was further improved by enhancing the surface area in the core/shell electrode.

Toward high-performance polymer solar cells: The importance of morphology control

Polymer solar cells have the potential to become a major electrical power generating tool in the 21st century. R&D endeavors are focusing on continuous roll-to-roll printing of polymeric or organic compounds from solution-like newspapers-to produce flexible and lightweight devices at low cost. It is recognized, though, that besides the functional properties of the compounds the organization of structures on the nanometer level-forced and controlled mainly by the processing conditions applied-determines the performance of state-of-the-art polymer solar cells. In such devices the photoactive layer is composed of at least two functional materials that form nanoscale interpenetrating phases with specific functionalities, a so-called bulk heterojunction. In this perspective article, our current knowledge on the main factors determining the morphology formation and evolution is introduced, and gaps of our understanding on nanoscale structure-property relations in the field of high-performance polymer solar cells are addressed. Finally, promising routes toward formation of tailored morphologies are presented.

Progress in polymer solar cell

This review outlines current progresses in polymer solar cell. Compared to traditional silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) technology, the completely different principle of optoelectric response in the polymer cell results in a novel configuration of the device and more complicated photovoltaic generation process. The conception of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) is introduced and its advantage in terms of morphology is addressed. The main aspects including the morphology of photoactive layer, which limit the efficiency and stability of polymer solar cell, are discussed in detail. The solutions to boosting up both the efficiency and stability (lifetime) of the polymer solar cell are highlighted at the end of this review.

Colloid chemical approach to nanoelectrode ensembles with highly controllable active area fraction

A novel "bottom-up" approach to highly controllable nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs) has been developed using colloidal nanoparticle self-assembly techniques. Ibis solution-based strategy allows flexible control over nanoelectrode size, shape, and interspacing of the as-prepared NEEs. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was proved to be a powerful tool to monitor the NEE topography, which yields parameters that can be used to calculate the fractional nanoelectrode area of the NEEs. AFM, ac impedance, and cyclic voltammetry studies demonstrate that most of nanoelectrodes on the NEEs (at least by 9-min self-assembly) are not diffusionally isolated under conventional ac frequency range and scan rates. As a result, the NEEs behave as "nanoelectrode-patch" assemblies. Besides, the as-prepared NEEs by different self-assembling times show an adjustable sensitivity to heterogeneous electron-transfer kinetics, which may be helpful to sensor applications. Like these NEEs constructed by other techniques, the present NEEs prepared by chemical self-assembly also exhibit the enhancement of electroanalytical detection limit consistent with NEE theory prediction.

The fabrication of dipped CdS and sputtered ITO thin films for photovoltaic solar cells

Stable bilayer thin films of indium tin oxide (ITO) on CdS and CdS on ITO were formed for the window material of solar cells by chemical bath and sputtering methods. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies have shown that both the ITO and CdS films are continuous, homogeneous, with high compactness. Measurement of the CdS film thickness across the 2 x 4 cm(2) reveals the good uniformity of these films. Four-point probe measurements show that the resistivity of a CdS film on an ITO surface is much better than that of the single CdS film The thermal stability of an ITO/CdS bilayer, interfacial reaction and optical transmittance were investigated at different annealing temperatures and environments (air, vacuum and N-2 + H-2). The results showed that the ITO/CdS bilayer film is a good window material for the CuInSe2 and CdTe cells. It is a simple method using a small amount of the cadmium compound.

Cultivation of the brown alga Sargassum horneri: sexual reproduction and seedling production in tank culture under reduced solar irradiance in ambient temperature

As a large conspicuous intertidal brown alga, individuals of Sargassum horneri can reach a length of more than 7 m with a fresh weight of 3 kg along the coasts of the Eastern China Sea. The biomass of this alga as a vital component in coastal water ecology has been well documented. In recent years, a steady disappearance of the algal biomass along the once densely populated coastal areas of the Eastern China Sea has drawn attention in China. Efforts have been made to reconstruct the subtidal algal flora or even to grow the alga by use of long-lines. As part of the efforts to establish an efficient technique for producing seedlings of S. horneri, in this investigation a series of culture experiments were carried out in indoor raceway and rectangular tanks under reduced solar irradiance at ambient temperature in 2007-2008. The investigation demonstrated that: (1) sexual reproduction of S. horneri could be accelerated in elevated temperature and light climates, at least 3 months earlier than in the wild; (2) eggs of S. horneri had the potential to be fertilized up to 48 h, much longer than that of known related species; (3) suspension and fixed culture methods were both effective in growing the seedlings to the long-line cultivation stage; and (4) the life cycle of S. horneri in culture could be shortened to 4.5 months, thus establishing this alga as an appropriate model for investigating sexual reproduction in dieocious species of this genus.