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Materials
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Recent Development in Dye-Sensitized and Organic Solar Cells
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Recent Development in Dye-Sensitized and Organic Solar Cells

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2022) | Viewed by 13162

Special Issue Editor

GUT Prof. Dr. Waldemar Stampor

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland
Interests: molecular photophysics; organic electronics; OLEDs; solar cells; magnetic effects in organic solids; electromodulation spectroscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The effective direct conversion of solar energy into electricity is one of the most important technological challenges of the current era of searching for renewable and environmentally-friendly energy sources. Photovoltaic devices based on organic materials including dye-sensitized (DSSCs) as well as fully organic solar cells (OPVs) represent a promising alternative to conventional (inorganic) devices, due to their low materials processing cost, ease of production, and possible scaling for large areas. Despite considerable efforts made in recent years, further improvement of performance and increase in stability of organic devices are still required for their effective competition with widely-used mature crystalline silicon-based cells.

This Special Issue aims to provide contributions to interdisciplinary exchange of information gathering original research papers as well as critical review articles on the latest developments in all aspects of solar cells based on organic materials.

Potential topics of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Design, characterization, and development of molecular materials and their performance in solar devices at both experimental and theoretical level; panchromatic dyes; novel electrolytes in DSSCs;
  • Device physics: fundamental processes such as charge carrier generation, recombination, and transport underlying efficient operation of the devices; the role of electron–hole pairs and charge transfer states; modeling of performance parameters;
  • Technology and production aspects, including fabrication methods and optimization of device architecture; flexible solar cell solutions;
  • Electrode and interface engineering; employment of nanostructures;
  • Problems related to degradation, stability, practical applications, and industrial commercialization of DSSCs and OPVs.

GUT Prof. Dr. Waldemar Stampor
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Renewable energy
  • Photovoltaics
  • Dye-sensitized solar cells
  • Organic solar cells
  • Organic electronic materials
  • Organic semiconductors
  • Device physics
  • Charge photogeneration and recombination
  • Materials engineering for photovoltaics

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1636 KiB  
Article
Co-Sensitization Effects of Indoline and Carbazole Dyes in Solar Cells and Their Neutral–Anion Equilibrium in Solution
by Mateusz Gierszewski, Adam Glinka and Marcin Ziółek
Materials 2022, 15(21), 7725; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217725 - 2 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1661
Abstract
Co-sensitization of two or more light-absorbing compounds on a TiO2 surface has recently become one of the most successful strategies in the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The specific structure of the dyes for DSSCs implies that they can partly exist [...] Read more.
Co-sensitization of two or more light-absorbing compounds on a TiO2 surface has recently become one of the most successful strategies in the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The specific structure of the dyes for DSSCs implies that they can partly exist in anionic forms in popular solvents used for sensitization. Our study concerns the above two issues being analyzed in detail using the example of the popular carbazole (MK2) and indoline (D205) dyes, studied by stationary absorption and emission, femtosecond transient absorption (in complete cells and in the solutions), current-voltage measurements, DFT and TD-DFT theoretical calculations. After the addition of D205 to DSSC with MK2, the fill factor of the cells was improved, and the electron recombination between TiO2 and the dyes was blocked (observed on sub-nanosecond time scales). Thus, the active co-adsorbent can take the role of the typically used passive additive, like chenodeoxycholic acid. Evidence of the concentration-dependent equilibrium between neutral and anionic forms of dyes with different lifetimes was found in acetonitrile solutions (the best for sensitization), while in ethanol solution the dominant form was the anion (worse for sensitization). Our findings should help in better understanding the operation and optimization of DSSC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development in Dye-Sensitized and Organic Solar Cells)
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27 pages, 3454 KiB  
Article
Electronic States of Tris(bipyridine) Ruthenium(II) Complexes in Neat Solid Films Investigated by Electroabsorption Spectroscopy
by Daniel Pelczarski, Oleksandr Korolevych, Błażej Gierczyk, Maciej Zalas, Małgorzata Makowska-Janusik and Waldemar Stampor
Materials 2022, 15(6), 2278; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15062278 - 19 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2067
Abstract
We present the electric field-induced absorption (electroabsorption, EA) spectra of the solid neat films of tris(bipyridine) Ru(II) complexes, which were recently functionalized in our group as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, and we compare them with the results obtained for an archetypal [Ru(bpy) [...] Read more.
We present the electric field-induced absorption (electroabsorption, EA) spectra of the solid neat films of tris(bipyridine) Ru(II) complexes, which were recently functionalized in our group as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, and we compare them with the results obtained for an archetypal [Ru(bpy)3]2+ ion (RBY). We argue that it is difficult to establish a unique set of molecular parameter values by discrete parametrization of the EA spectra under the Liptay formalism for non-degenerate excited states. Therefore, the experimental EA spectra are compared with the spectra computed by the TDDFT (time-dependent density-functional theory) method, which for the first time explains the mechanism of electroabsorption in tris(bipyridine) Ru complexes without any additional assumptions about the spectral lineshape of the EA signal. We have shown that the main EA feature, in a form close to the absorption second derivative observed in the spectral range of the first MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) absorption band in Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2, can be attributed to a delocalized and orbitally degenerate excited state. This result may have key implications for the EA mechanism in RBY-based systems that exhibit similar EA spectra due to the robust nature of MLCT electronic states in such systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development in Dye-Sensitized and Organic Solar Cells)
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13 pages, 7473 KiB  
Article
Electron Transport in Naphthalene Diimide Derivatives
by Jaroslaw Jung, Arkadiusz Selerowicz, Paulina Maczugowska, Krzysztof Halagan, Renata Rybakiewicz-Sekita, Malgorzata Zagorska and Anna Stefaniuk-Grams
Materials 2021, 14(14), 4026; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14144026 - 19 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2700
Abstract
Two naphthalene diimides derivatives containing two different (alkyl and alkoxyphenyl) N-substituents were studied, namely, N,N′-bis(sec-butyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide (NDI-s-Bu) and N,N′-bis(4-n-hexyloxyphenyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide (NDI-4-n-OHePh). These compounds are known to exhibit electron transport due to their electron-deficient [...] Read more.
Two naphthalene diimides derivatives containing two different (alkyl and alkoxyphenyl) N-substituents were studied, namely, N,N′-bis(sec-butyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide (NDI-s-Bu) and N,N′-bis(4-n-hexyloxyphenyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide (NDI-4-n-OHePh). These compounds are known to exhibit electron transport due to their electron-deficient character evidenced by high electron affinity (EA) values, determined by electrochemical methods and a low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level, predicted by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These parameters make the studied organic semiconductors stable in operating conditions and resistant to electron trapping, facilitating, in this manner, electron transport in thin solid layers. Current–voltage characteristics, obtained for the manufactured electron-only devices operating in the low voltage range, yielded mobilities of 4.3 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1 and 4.6 × 10−6 cm2V−1s−1 for (NDI-s-Bu) and (NDI-4-n-OHePh), respectively. Their electron transport characteristics were described using the drift–diffusion model. The studied organic semiconductors can be considered as excellent candidates for the electron transporting layers in organic photovoltaic cells and light-emitting diodes Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development in Dye-Sensitized and Organic Solar Cells)
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28 pages, 4475 KiB  
Article
How Can the Introduction of Zr4+ Ions into TiO2 Nanomaterial Impact the DSSC Photoconversion Efficiency? A Comprehensive Theoretical and Experimental Consideration
by Aleksandra Bartkowiak, Oleksandr Korolevych, Gian Luca Chiarello, Malgorzata Makowska-Janusik and Maciej Zalas
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2955; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112955 - 30 May 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2657
Abstract
A series of pure and doped TiO2 nanomaterials with different Zr4+ ions content have been synthesized by the simple sol-gel method. Both types of materials (nanopowders and nanofilms scratched off of the working electrode’s surface) have been characterized in detail by [...] Read more.
A series of pure and doped TiO2 nanomaterials with different Zr4+ ions content have been synthesized by the simple sol-gel method. Both types of materials (nanopowders and nanofilms scratched off of the working electrode’s surface) have been characterized in detail by XRD, TEM, and Raman techniques. Inserting dopant ions into the TiO2 structure has resulted in inhibition of crystal growth and prevention of phase transformation. The role of Zr4+ ions in this process was explained by performing computer simulations. The three structures such as pure anatase, Zr-doped TiO2, and tetragonal ZrO2 have been investigated using density functional theory extended by Hubbard correction. The computational calculations correlate well with experimental results. Formation of defects and broadening of energy bandgap in defected Zr-doped materials have been confirmed. It turned out that the oxygen vacancies with substituting Zr4+ ions in TiO2 structure have a positive influence on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. The overall photoconversion efficiency enhancement up to 8.63% by introducing 3.7% Zr4+ ions into the TiO2 has been confirmed by I-V curves, EIS, and IPCE measurements. Such efficiency of DSSC utilizing the working electrode made by Zr4+ ions substituted into TiO2 material lattice has been for the first time reported. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development in Dye-Sensitized and Organic Solar Cells)
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18 pages, 5098 KiB  
Article
2-Thiohydantoin Moiety as a Novel Acceptor/Anchoring Group of Photosensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
by Aleksandra Bartkowiak, Bartosz Orwat, Maciej Zalas, Przemyslaw Ledwon, Ireneusz Kownacki and Waldemar Tejchman
Materials 2020, 13(9), 2065; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13092065 - 30 Apr 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3253
Abstract
Very recently, we have reported the synthesis and evaluation of biological properties of new merocyanine dyes composed of triphenylamine moiety, π-aromatic spacer, and rhodanine/2-thiohydantoin-based moiety. Interestingly, 2-thiohydantoin has never been studied before as an electron-accepting/anchoring group for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In [...] Read more.
Very recently, we have reported the synthesis and evaluation of biological properties of new merocyanine dyes composed of triphenylamine moiety, π-aromatic spacer, and rhodanine/2-thiohydantoin-based moiety. Interestingly, 2-thiohydantoin has never been studied before as an electron-accepting/anchoring group for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In the presented study, we examined the applicability of 2-thiohydantoin, an analog of rhodanine, in DSSC technology. The research included theoretical calculations, electrochemical measurements, optical characterization, and tests of the solar cells. As a result, we proved that 2-thiohydantoin might be considered as an acceptor/anchoring group since all the compounds examined in this study were active. The most efficient device showed power conversion efficiency of 2.59%, which is a promising value for molecules of such a simple structure. It was found that the cells’ performances were mainly attributed to the dye loading and the ICT molecular absorption coefficients, both affected by the differences in the chemical structure of the dyes. Moreover, the effect of the aromatic spacer size and the introduction of carboxymethyl co-anchoring group on photovoltaic properties was observed and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development in Dye-Sensitized and Organic Solar Cells)
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