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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Digital Printing of Titanium Dioxide for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: May 4, 2016
Designing Eco-Sustainable Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by the Use of a Menthol-Based Hydrophobic Eutectic Solvent as an
Chiara Liliana Boldrini1, Norberto Manfredi1, Filippo Maria Perna2
1Department of Materials Science and Solar Energy Research Center MIB-SOLAR, University of Milano - Bicocca, and INSTM Milano - Bicocca Research Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125, Milano, Italy.
Abstract:
The use of a hydrophobic eutectic solvent based on dl-menthol and a naturally occurring acid such as acetic acid has been tested as an eco-friendly electrolyte medium in dye-sensitized solar cells. In the presence of a de-aggregating agent and a representative hydrophobic organic photosensitizer, the corresponding devices displayed relatively good power conversion efficiencies in very thin active layers. In particular, the higher cell photovoltage detected in comparison to devices based on toxic and volatile organic compounds may stem from a more efficient interface interaction, as suggested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies showing greater charge recombination resistance and electron lifetime.
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