Molecular design principle of all-organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

All-organic dyes have shown promising potential as an effective sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The design concept of all-organic dyes to improve light-to-electric-energy conversion is discussed based on the absorption, electron injection, dye regeneration, and recombination. How the electron-donor-acceptor-type framework can provide better light harvesting through bandgap-tuning and why proper arrangement of acceptor/anchoring groups within a conjugated dye frame is important in suppressing improper charge recombination in DSSCs are discussed. Separating the electron acceptor from the anchoring unit in the donor-acceptor-type organic dye would be a promising strategy to reduce recombination and improve photocurrent generation.