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Updated: Jan 26, 2026
09:30
Electrospinning of Photocatalytic Electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: June 28, 2017
10.1K
Towards efficient sustainable full-copper dye-sensitized solar cells
Claudia Dragonetti1, Mirko Magni, Alessia Colombo
1Dipartimento di Chimica dell'Università degli Studi di Milano, UdR-INSTM, via Golgi 19, I-20133, Milano, Italy. alessia.colombo@unimi.it.
Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
|April 11, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed new copper(i) sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These novel materials show performance comparable to existing ones, highlighting the potential of full-copper DSSCs for efficient solar energy conversion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photovoltaics
- Coordination Chemistry
Background:
- Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising photovoltaic technology.
- Copper(i) complexes are explored as cost-effective alternatives to ruthenium-based dyes.
- Development of efficient ancillary ligands is crucial for optimizing DSSC performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel heteroleptic copper(i) sensitizers for DSSCs.
- To evaluate the performance of these new sensitizers using different redox electrolytes.
- To assess the potential of full-copper DSSCs.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of two new heteroleptic copper(i) complexes.
- Characterization of the synthesized complexes.
- Performance evaluation of the complexes as dyes in DSSCs.
- Experimental and theoretical calculations.
Main Results:
- Successful preparation and characterization of two new copper(i) sensitizers.
- DSSC performance comparable to related copper complexes with different ancillary ligands.
- Similar performance observed with both iodide/triiodide and homoleptic copper complexes as electron shuttles.
- Experimental and theoretical data confirm the viability of full-copper DSSCs.
Conclusions:
- The new heteroleptic copper(i) sensitizers are effective for DSSC applications.
- The choice of ancillary ligand and redox shuttle influences DSSC performance.
- Full-copper DSSCs demonstrate significant potential for efficient solar energy conversion.
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