A series of heteroleptic Cu(I) diimine complexes with different ancillary ligands and 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dibenzoic acid (dbda) as the anchoring ligand were selfassembled on TiO2 surfaces and used as dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The binding to the TiO2 surface was studied by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for a brominecontaining complex, confirming the complex formation. The performance of all complexes was assessed and rationalized on the basis of their respective ancillary ligand. The DSSC photocurrent-voltage characteristics, incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra, and calculated lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) distributions collectively show a push-pull structural dye design, in which the ancillary ligand exhibits an electron-donating effect that can lead to improved solar cell performance. By analyzing the optical properties of the dyes and their solar cell performance, we can conclude that the presence of ancillary ligands with bulky substituents protects the Cu(I) metal center from solvent coordination constituting a critical factor in the design of efficient Cu(I)-based dyes. Moreover, we have identified some components in the I-/I-3(-)-based electrolyte that causes dissociation of the ancillary ligand, i.e., TiO2 photoelectrode bleaching. Finally, the detailed studies on one of the dyes revealed an electrolyte-dye interaction, leading to a dramatic change of the dye properties when adsorbed on the TiO2 surface.

The state-of-the-art cobalt(II/III) tris(bipyridyl) redox shuttles open a chapter for pursuing highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Previous work has demonstrated that light exposure of the Co(III) along with the Lewis base additive, tert-butylpyridine (TBP), effectively improves the solar cell efficiency. With this as a platform, a new Lewis base, i.e., tert-butylpyridine N-oxide (TBP-O), is introduced as an electrolyte co-additive instead of TBP alone. The resulting D3S-sensitized solar cells exhibit an efficiency of 6.6% at full solar illumination, which further increases to 8.1% by exposing the new electrolyte mixture to the light and thus outperforms typical Li+-containing DSSCs. A mechanism with regard to the interactions between Co(III) and Lewis base additives supported by electrochemical and spectroscopic studies is suggested to explain the performance improvement. The study illustrates negative effects of TBP on the charge- and mass-transfer kinetics at the electrode/electrolyte interface and reveals that the effects are eliminated by a light-induced reaction between Co(III) and TBP-O.

Four weak donor backbones (BT, BTP, BT2, and BT3), featuring stepwise enhanced electron-donating capacities, are designed and synthesized. The sp(3) type carbons introduced are tethered with auxiliary groups to generate a better electron-blocking stereoscopic structure. A series of NB dyes are subsequently synthesized from these central cores by end-capping a strong diphenylamine donor and a planar heterocyclic acceptor 4-(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazol-4-ylethynyl)benzoic acid. The fine-tuning of steric configurations and energy levels of the resulting dye molecules reduces the energy losses significantly when applied in dye-sensitized solar cells. These devices offer one of the highest open-circuit voltages (approximate to 1.03 V) reported so far, and high power conversion efficiencies of 9.6%-12.1% using the NB dyes in combination with a well-developed cobalt-tris(4-methoxyphenyl)amine-based tandem electrolyte.

Lithium-ion-free tris(2,2 '-bipyridine) Co(ii/iii)-mediated electrolytes have previously been proposed for long-term stable dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Such redox systems also offer an impressive DSSC performance improvement under light soaking exposure, manifested by an increase in photocurrent and fill factor without the expense of decreasing photovoltage. Kinetic studies show that charge transfer and ion diffusion at the electrode/electrolyte interface are improved due to the light exposure. Control experiments reveal that the light effect is unambiguously associated with electrolyte components, [Co(bpy)(3)](3+) and the Lewis-base additive tert-butylpyridine (TBP). Electrochemical and spectroscopic investigation of the [Co(bpy)(3)](3+)/TBP mixtures points out that the presence of TBP, which retards the electrolyte diffusion, however causes an irreversible redox reaction of [Co(bpy)(3)](3+) upon light exposure that improves the overall conductivity. This discovery not only provides a new strategy to mitigate the typical J(sc)-V-oc trade-off in Co(ii/iii)-mediated DSSCs but also highlights the importance of investigating the photochemistry of a photoelectrochemical system.

Perovskite photovoltaics have recently attracted extensive attention due to their unprecedented high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in combination with primitive manufacturing conditions. However, the inherent polycrystalline nature of perovskite films renders an exceptional density of structural defects, especially at the grain boundaries (GBs) and film surfaces, representing a key challenge that impedes the further performance improvement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and large solar module ambitions towards commercialization. Here, a novel strategy is presented utilizing a simple ethylammonium chloride (EACl) additive in combination with a facile solvent bathing approach to achieve high quality methyammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) films. Well-oriented, micron-sized grains were observed, which contribute to an extended carrier lifetime and reduced trap density. Further investigations unraveled the distinctively prominent effects of EACl in modulating the perovskite film quality. The EACl was found to promote the perovskite grain growing without undergoing the formation of intermediate phases. Moreover, the EACl was also revealed to deplete at relative low temperature to enhance the film quality without compromising the beneficial bandgap for solar cell applications. This new strategy boosts the power conversion efficiency (PCE) to 20.9% and 19.0% for devices with effective areas of 0.126 cm2 and 1.020 cm2, respectively, with negligible current hysteresis and enhanced stability. Besides, perovskite films with a size of 10 × 10 cm2, and an assembled 16 cm2(5 × 5 cm2 module) perovskite solar module with a PCE of over 11% were constructed.

Heterogeneous charge transfer processes at sensitized wide bandgap semiconductor surfaces are imperative for both fundamental knowledge and technical applications. Herein, we focus on the investigation of carrier dynamics of a triphenylamine-based dye, LEG4, sensitized TiO2 (LEG4/TiO2) in contact with two types of electrolyte systems: pure cobalt-based electrolytes and in combination with an organic donor, tri(p-anisyl)amine (TPAA). Four different cobalt redox systems with potentials spanning a 0.3 V range were studied, and the carrier recombination and regeneration kinetics were monitored both at low and at high TiO2 (e(-)) densities (1.3 X 10(18) and 1.3 X 10(19) cm(-3), respectively). The results reveal that the introduction of the TPAA intermediate more effectively suppress the recombination loss of TiO2 (e(-)) under high charge conditions, close to open-circuit, as compared to low charge conditions. As a result, the charge transfer from the cobalt complexes to the oxidized dyes is significantly improved by the addition of TPAA. Dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated with the TPAA-containing electrolytes demonstrate remarkable improvement in both V-OC and J(SC) and lead to more than 25% increase of the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency. Furthermore, an unprecedented detrimental impact of TPAA on the device performance was identified when the redox potential of the TPAA donor and the cobalt complexes are close. This is ascribed to the formation of TPAA(center dot+) which can act as an active recombination centers and thus lower the solar cell performance. These insights point at a strategy to enhance the lifetimes of electrons generated in sensitized semiconductor electrodes by overcoming the charge recombination between TiO2 and the oxidized dye under high carrier densities in the semiconductor substrate and offer practical guidance to the design of future efficient electrolyte systems for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Tandem redox electrolytes, prepared by the addition of a tris(p-anisyl)amine mediator into classic tris(bipyridine)cobalt-based electrolytes, demonstrate favorable electron transfer and reduced energy loss in dye-sensitized solar cells. Here, we have successfully explored three tris(4-alkoxyphenyl)-amine mediators with bulky molecular structures and generated more effective tandem redox systems. This series of tandem redox electrolytes rendered solar cells with very high photovoltages exceeding 1 V, which approaches the theoretical voltage limit of tris(bipyridine)cobalt-based electrolytes. Solar cells with power conversion efficiencies of 9.7-11.0% under 1 sun illumination were manufactured. This corresponds to an efficiency improvement of up to 50% as compared to solar cells based on pure tris(bipyridine)cobalt-based electrolytes. The photovoltage increases with increasing steric effects of the tris(4-alkoxyphenyl)amine mediators, which is attributed to a retarded recombination kinetics. These results highlight the importance of structural design for optimized charge transfer at the sensitized semiconductor/electrolyte interface and provide insights for the future development of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Triphenylamine-based metal complexes were designed and synthesized via coordination to Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) using their respective acetate salts as the starting materials. The resulting metal complexes exhibit more negative energy levels (vs vacuum) as compared to 2,2', 7,7'-tetrakis(N, N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD), high hole extraction efficiency, but low hole mobilities and conductivities. Application of dopants typically used for Spiro-OMeTAD was not successful, indicating a more complicated mechanism of partial oxidation besides the redox potential. However, utilization as hole-transport material was successful, giving a highest efficiency of 11.1% under AM 1.5G solar illumination.