Molecular engineering of efficient dyes for p-type semiconductor sensitization

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on p-type semiconductors such as nickel oxide have attracted considerable attention during the past 5 years. In this chapter, we focus on the progress related to improving p-DSC efficiency with the sensitizer. First, we summarize the specificities of p-DSC relative to conventional Grätzel cells, and then we establish the requirements for an efficient sensitizer. Second, we review all the results on published dyes and discuss the strategy for improvements. The molecular design principles of the dyes are also presented in order to pave the way and stimulate new directions.