Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells for indoor and outdoor renewable energy-based application

Abstract

Bifacial solar cells (BFSCs) offer a way to boost electrical power generation for each unit area compared to traditional monofacial cells without a significant increase in production costs. These cells are designed to absorb sunlight from both front and rear sides, making them more efficient in converting light into electricity while exploiting the reflected solar radiation. The third-generation PV solar cells are widely known for the flexibility and the colour tunability allowing them to be designed as BFSCs. This article focuses on semi-transparent bifacial dye sensitized solar cells (BFDSCs), which stand out for their low production cost, for the possibility of being environmentally friendly and for the excellent conversion efficiency even in diffused light conditions, balancing both efficiency and transparency for a variety of applications. Their semi-transparent nature and the adaptability to different sunlight angles make BFDSCs ideal for both indoor and outdoor environments. This review highlights the newest breakthroughs in DSSC and provides an overview of the latest research on innovative electrodes, electrolytes, and dyes. Moreover, the review delves into current and potential uses of BFDSCs in areas such as agriculture, building integration, and smart devices.