Review on nanostructured photoelectrodes for next generation dye-sensitized solar cells

José Maçaira, Luísa Andrade and Adélio Mendes

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, vol. 27, issue C, 334-349

Abstract: This work reviews the state-of-the-art nanostructured photoelectrodes for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. The influence of the photoelectrode structure in the DSC performance is analyzed. The nanostructured photoelectrodes can be classified into: (1) nanoparticles with high surface areas for efficient dye loading; (2) 1D nanostructures such as nanotubes and nanowires that offer direct electron transport pathways towards the collecting substrate; (3) 3D hierarchically ordered photoelectrodes that combine large pores for efficient electrolyte diffusion, large particles for effective light scattering but also small particles needed to achieve high surface areas; (4) 3D template-based techniques that create highly conductive macroporous scaffolds to produce structures with different length scales for electrolyte diffusion (macro and mesopores) and dye loading (micro and nanopores); and finally (5) hybrid TiO2/graphene nanostructures able to suppress electron recombination in the semiconductor/electrolyte interface, increasing the electron mobility and extraction and also able to enhance light absorption, ultimately increasing the DSC performance.

Keywords: Dye-sensitized solar cells; Nanoparticles; Photoelectrode; Electron transport; Recombination; Graphene (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032113004565
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:27:y:2013:i:c:p:334-349

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2013.07.011

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().