Polypyridyl copper complexes as dye sensitizer and redox mediator for dye-sensitized solar cells
Jeanet Conradie
Abstract
Developments on the application of polypyridyl-based copper complexes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are briefly discussed in this mini review. Copper complexes in solar cells are special in that they can be used either as dye sensitizer and/or as redox mediator (redox couple) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Both the abundance and low cost of copper motivates research on the use of copper complexes, as cheaper and non-toxic alternative to the mostly used iodide/triiodide (I−/I3−) electrolyte redox couple, and the expensive and rare ruthenium-based dyes of good performance, which currently are best known.
Topics & Concepts
Dye-sensitized solar cellTriiodideRedoxCopperIodideRutheniumChemistryElectrolytePhotochemistryInorganic chemistryCatalysisOrganic chemistryElectrodePhysical chemistryTiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar CellsAdvanced Photocatalysis TechniquesPolyoxometalates: Synthesis and Applications