Insight on the choice of sensitizers/dyes for dye sensitized solar cells: A review

In this review, a discussion on renewable sources of energy with clear focus on solar cell applications is pre-sented. Especially, possible future directions for development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are discussed. Dye-sensitized solar cells have become an important topic of research due to its high importance in energy conversion. Current DSSCs are based on metal dye sensitizers, metal-free organic dyes or natural dyes. They have been extensively studied due to their low cost, simple preparation methodology, low toxicity, and ease of pro-duction. Still there is a need to find more abundant DSSC materials that at the same time exhibit long-term stability. Computational studies have been an important ally for developing/designing new dye sensitizers. They are reviewed here with a special emphasis on the benefit of such studies. The conceptual understanding of development and working principle of photoactive DSSC materials is the primary feature of the review followed by examples of studies on different dye sensitizers using scarce to abundant metal based dyes and metal free organic dyes with donor-pi-acceptor geometries for both n-and p-type DSSCs. The proper choice of organic dyes including donor, spacer, or acceptor is discussed and a prospective on dual donor based dyes is presented.

Automated summary

In this review, the focus is on renewable sources of energy with an emphasis on solar cell applications. Specifically, the possible future directions for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are discussed. DSSCs have gained significant research attention due to their importance in energy conversion. The review discusses the use of metal dye sensitizers, metal-free organic dyes, and natural dyes in DSSCs, highlighting their low cost, simplicity of preparation, low toxicity, and ease of production. Computational studies are also reviewed, emphasizing their contribution to the development of new dye sensitizers. The article presents a conceptual understanding of the development and working principle of photoactive DSSC materials, along with examples of studies on different dye sensitizers using both scarce to abundant metal-based dyes and metal-free organic dyes for n-type and p-type DSSCs. The choice of organic dyes, including donor, spacer, or acceptor, is discussed, and the potential of dual donor-based dyes is presented.