Pt-free transparent counter electrodes for cost-effective bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells

Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) that are able to utilize the incidental light from both their front- and rear-side have received increasing attention in recent years. Compared to conventional DSCs that can only be operated under front-side illumination, bifacial design will allow DSCs to generate up to 50% more electrical power. Besides, bifacial DSCs can be easily made transparent and may find broad applications in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) as power-generating windows and roof panels. Transparent counter electrodes (CEs) are key to the fabrication of bifacial DSCs. However, despite the fact that conventional Pt CE can be made transparent, its high cost and scarce source may hinder the large-scale application of DSCs. Therefore, many efforts have been made to develop low-cost alternative CEs based on carbon materials, conducting polymers, inorganic compounds and their composites. In this feature article, we intend to pay special attention to the recent advances in the development of Pt-free transparent CEs and highlight their applications in bifacial DSCs.