Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have yet to emerge as a major alternative to fossil fuels due, in part, to the overall cost associated with manufacturing DSSCs and the overall efficiencies at which they operate.  This implies there are at least two ways to make DSSCs more economically attractive: reduce their cost and/or improve their efficiencies. Investigation is underway to lower the overall cost of traditional DSSCs by exchanging platinum, a critical component of the cell, with a less expensive, conductive polymer based on ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT).  Preliminary results show that polymerized EDOT films do function efficiently as cathodes in DSSCs when compared to platinized FTO.  In a parallel effort, we are also investigating a new ruthenium dye species that may help to minimize an unwanted redox pathway that is known to decrease the overall photo-conversion efficiency of liquid-based DSSCs.  Details of our efforts to produce this, and a related series of dyes will be presented.<br/>

Dye sensitized solar cells: A push towards lowering cost and improving efficiency

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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