View article

At the end of last century, the possibility to use devices based on molecular components for the construction of a robust large-scale solar electricity production facility seemed utopic. But the seminal paper by O’Regan and Grätzel in 19911 spurred researchers to take on the challenge. With the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), 2 conventional solid-state photovoltaic technologies are now challenged by devices functioning at a molecular and nanolevel. Record efficiencies of up to 12% for small cells and about 9% for minimodules, promising stability data, passing, for example, the critical 1000 h stability test at 80 C with a durable efficiency of 8-9%, and means of energy-efficient production methods have been accomplished. The prospect of low-cost investments and fabrication are key features. DSCs perform also relatively better compared with other solar cell technologies under diffuse light …