Progress in dye-sensitized solid state solar cells

Recently, dye sensitized solid-state cells with the configuration of n-semiconductor vertical bar sensitizer vertical bar hole conductor (NDP) have been demonstarted. The maximum power conversion efficiency of this type of solar cells reaches only one third compared to that of dye sensitized photo-electrochemical cells. The properties of different types of solid state dye sensitized solar cells are discussed with the aim to understand the mechanisms of operation of these devices. Here we present an overview and the current state of NDP type solar cells based on copper iodide (or copper thiocyanate) as a hole conductor. (c) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.