review · Energy Science & Engineering
Dye-sensitized solar cells represent a promising third-generation photovoltaic technology offering benefits such as low toxicity, versatility, lightweight design, roll-to-roll manufacturing compatibility, and attractive power conversion efficiencies. Despite these advantages, their transition from laboratory research to industrial deployment remains slow. Current devices struggle to match silicon-based alternatives in operational stability and overall efficiency. Continued research focuses on refining their physical and chemical properties to support eventual commercialisation. Key areas of ongoing development include molecular engineering, enhanced carrier transport materials, better sensitizers, improved electrodes, surface morphology control, and doping techniques. In addition, modelling, simulation, and advanced nanostructured photoelectrodes are being explored to overcome performance bottlenecks. These efforts aim to tackle persistent hurdles and support practical uses, particularly for powering portable electronics and internet of things devices.
Dye-sensitized solar cells offer an ultralight and non-toxic alternative to conventional solar panels. Understanding current progress in material engineering, electrodes, and device stability is essential for identifying how third-generation photovoltaics can overcome efficiency limitations. This knowledge helps direct future energy research toward viable solutions for powering decentralised, low-power electronic networks.
The technology holds potential for powering portable electronics and internet of things devices, with roll-to-roll compatibility offering scalable manufacturing possibilities. However, commercialisation remains at an early to intermediate stage, as current devices cannot yet compete with established silicon-based cells in operational stability and power conversion efficiency. Substantial refinement of chemical and physical properties is still required before industrial adoption becomes feasible.
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Abstract Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are among the most attractive third‐generation photovoltaic technologies due to their low toxicity, versatility, roll‐to‐roll compatibility, ultralightness, and attractive power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). However, their transition from the laboratory scale to the industrial scale has been slow due to their inability to compete with silicon‐based cells in terms of efficiencies and stabilities. Research activities on DSSCs have been ongoing for several decades to improve the efficiency and cost‐effectiveness of photovoltaics but these attempts are still inadequate. Their chemical and physical properties must be refined to increase efficiency and commercialization. This review provides a concise overview of the recent advances taking place in the DSSCs research field, including molecular engineering technologies, the quest for superior carrier transport materials (CTMs), efficient sensitizers, and better electrodes. Also, this review compiles knowledge of the historical development of DSSCs, the current advancements such as control of surface morphologies, doping strategies, modeling and simulation, characterization, and recent cutting‐edge research happenings in photovoltaic research. Finally, nanostructured materials that have been used as photoelectrodes and the practical applications of DSSCs in internet of things (IoT) and portable electronics are examined to identify challenges and future advancements. The main aim of this work is to be a pathfinder for scientific researchers in this field exploring various energy harvesting materials and optimization strategies of different components of DSSCs.
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DOI: 10.1002/ese3.1815
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