Mario Alejandro Mejía Escobar^*, Frankin Jaramillo^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 281-291, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634142

Abstract In recent years, the development of new materials has contributed markedly to improving the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Mesoporous semiconductors, solid electrolyte, non-conventional catalysts and synthetic dyes without ruthenium have been the focus of study. With respect to the last, lanthanides and porphyrins have presented good properties, but these elements have the same disadvantage as rutheniumbased dyes; being complicated to synthesize and very expensive. These limitations have stimulated much research in the use of natural dyes as sensitizers due to their exceptional photoelectochemical properties and low cost. Furthermore, they are regarded as renewable and environmentally friendly materials. For… More >

Adel Daoud^1,2,3,4,*, Ali Cheknane², Jean Michel Nunzi^3,4, Afak Meftah¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.18, No.6, pp. 1569-1579, 2022, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2022.022091

Abstract A solubility model for Merocyanine-540 dye together with the interface's electron transfer kinetics of MC-540/TiO₂ has been investigated (Merocyanine 540-based dye has been used effectively in dye-sensitized solar cells). The highest absorption peaks were recorded at 489 nm and 493 nm in Water and Ethanol solvent, versus the vacuum phase which yielded 495 nm (associated with a modest electron injection-free energy value (ΔGinj) of -2.34 eV for both Water and Ethanol solvents). The time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) method approach has been applied in this simulation. Additionally, the electronic structure and simulated UV-Vis spectra of the dye in different solvents… More > Graphic Abstract

Sandhia Bai¹, A. K. Amirruddin¹, A. K. Pandey^2,*, M. Samykano^1,*, Muhammad Shakeel Ahmad³, Kamal Sharma⁴, V. V. Tyagi⁵

Energy Engineering, Vol.118, No.4, pp. 737-759, 2021, DOI:10.32604/EE.2021.016157

Abstract The global increase in energy demand has resulted in the depletion of non-renewable resources and caused environmental degradation. Consequently, emerging renewable technologies are a potential solution to fulfil energy demand and mitigate the effect of global warming. Low-cost solar energy harvesting technologies are most feasible technologies. Various solar cells technologies have been developed with improved overall performance and conversion efficiency. However, due to low cost and a wide range of applications, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been immensely focused on one of the most promising third-generation solar cells. The highest conversion efficiency of DSSC achieved after three decades of research… More >

Weiming Zhang¹, Muhammad Wasim Khan¹, Xueqin Zuo¹, Qun Yang¹, Huaibao Tang^1,2, Shaowei Jin^1,2, Guang Li^1,2,3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.4, pp. 431-446, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09158

Abstract A novel sunflower-like nanocomposite of SrCo₂S₄ nanoflakes and functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) entanglement enveloped in nitrogen-reduced graphene oxide (N-RGO) is prepared by a cheap process. The unique entanglement structure of the material exhibits higher specific surface area, better electrical conductivity and other properties. This helps to reduce the transfer resistance in the photoelectric process of the battery and improve the electrochemical activity, thus increasing the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the battery. The new ternary cobalt-based sulfide material can replace platinum as the counter electrode (CE) material loaded on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs with SrCo₂S₄@f-MWCNTs@N-RGO (SCS@f-M@N-R) as CE material… More >