Perylene-Based Dyes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Structural Development and Synthetic Strategies

The versatile absorption and fluorescence properties alongside the outstanding chemical and photostability make the rylene-based derivatives one of the most investigated compounds in the field of third-generation solar cells. Over the last 25 years, an intensive research activity has made the rylene-based derivatives one of the most interesting and modular class of sensitizers in the dye-sensitized solar cells. This critical analysis compares and discusses the state of the art of the rylene-based dyes, starting from the pioneering studies on the perylene bisimides to the latest N-annulated rylene derivatives. The focus of this review is to discuss the structure-to-properties relationship highlighting how critical points have been overcome and what are the most recent approaches toward the achievement of novel record efficiencies in the dye-sensitized solar cells.