Solid-state p-type dye-sensitized solar cells: progress, potential applications and challenges

The fabrication of solid-state p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (p-ssDSCs) using electron transport materials instead of the conventional I-/I-3(-) redox couple in liquid devices can completely eliminate the liquid phase and enhance the photovoltage. The performance of p-ssDSCs has been improved by optimizing the dyes and electron-transport materials. Moreover, p-ssDSCs provide a possibility to fabricate solid-state tandem dye-sensitized solar cells and show promising application in dye-sensitized solar fuel devices as well. Herein, the development of p-ssDSCs has been overviewed, their potential applications have been discussed, and the challenges remaining in p-ssDSCs have been highlighted.