Improved Photovoltages for p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using CuCrO2 Nanoparticles

CuCrO2 has been investigated as an alternative to conventionally used NiO in p-type dye sensitized solar cells (p-DSCs) using I-/I-3(-)- and [Co(en)(3)](2+/3+)-based redox mediators. The favorable valence band edge position of CuCrO2 affords open circuit voltages as high as 734 mV when [Co(en)(3)](2+/3+) is deployed as redox mediator. This is the highest reported open circuit voltage for any p-DSC to date, introducing mesoporous CuCrO2 electrodes as a promising alternative to traditional NiO.