Conference article

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) represent a relatively new photovoltaic technology with great potential: investment costs for initiating production are low and manufacturing costs below 0.5 US$/Wpeak are predicted. Furthermore; DSC offers the possibility of various colors and attractive designs; such as semitransparent modules. Record solar cell efficiencies are 11% for DSCs containing liquid redox electrolyte and 6% for DSCs with solid hole conductors. Promising stability data suggesting more than 20 years lifetime has been achieved. This paper presents the Center for Molecular Devices (CMD) in Sweden; which has as its objective to investigate and develop DSCs. Using a multi-disciplinary approach; significant advances in the scientific understanding of DSCs have been made; such as the demonstration of the presence of an internal electric field at the semiconductor / dye / electrolyte interface. Furthermore; novel components; such as triphenylamine-based dyes and cobalt-based mediator have been successfully tested. Finally; a monolithic DSC module technology with good performance is presented.

Dye-sensitized solar cell; PV modules