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Digital Printing of Titanium Dioxide for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: May 4, 2016
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Recent advances in graphene-based materials for dye-sensitized solar cell fabrication
Edigar Muchuweni1, Bice S Martincigh1, Vincent O Nyamori1
1School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus Private Bag X54001 Durban 4000 South Africa nyamori@ukzn.ac.za.
RSC Advances
|May 6, 2022
Summary
Graphene materials enhance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by improving power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and stability. This review explores graphene
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer low-cost, flexible alternatives to silicon cells but suffer from low efficiency and stability.
- Graphene and its derivatives possess excellent optoelectronic and mechanical properties, making them promising for DSSC enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the recent applications of graphene-based materials in DSSCs.
- To explore the potential for all-carbon-based DSSCs.
- To discuss limitations, merits, and future prospects of graphene in DSSCs.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on graphene-based materials in DSSCs.
- Analysis of graphene's role in photoanodes, electrolytes, and counter electrodes.
- Discussion of performance improvements and stability challenges.
Main Results:
- Graphene integration has increased DSSC power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) from ~0.13% to over 12%.
- Graphene-based materials show potential to replace traditional components, leading to all-carbon DSSCs.
- Graphene enhances DSSC performance, stability, and cost-effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Graphene-based materials significantly improve DSSC performance and stability.
- Further research into graphene can help bridge the efficiency gap with silicon solar cells.
- Graphene offers a pathway towards highly efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective DSSCs.
