Research progress on dyes for n-type dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) exhibit significant advantages in industrial production due to their abundant raw materials, low preparation costs, and simple processes. The dyes utilized in DSSCs play a crucial role in absorbing light energy and converting it into electrical energy. Therefore, this paper aims to review the latest advancements in DSSC dyes over the past five years, with a specific focus on analyzing the impact of natural dyes, organic dyes, and metal complex dyes on DSSC performance. In comparison, natural dyes are cost-effective and non-toxic, albeit less efficient. On the other hand, metal complex dyes demonstrate excellent performance but are highly toxic and expensive, while organic dyes are affordable and exhibit greater potential for development. Recent research has revealed that co-sensitization of multiple dyes and the utilization of sensitizers are currently the primary methods for enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.