Molecular Design Principle of All‐organic Dyes for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

All‐organic dyes have shown promising potential as an effective sensitizer in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The design concept of all‐organic dyes to improve light‐to‐electric‐energy conversion is discussed based on the absorption, electron injection, dye regeneration, and recombination. How the electron‐donor–acceptor‐type framework can provide better light harvesting through bandgap‐tuning and why proper arrangement of acceptor/anchoring groups within a conjugated dye frame is important in suppressing improper charge recombination in DSSCs are discussed. Separating the electron acceptor from the anchoring unit in the donor–acceptor‐type organic dye would be a promising strategy to reduce recombination and improve photocurrent generation. A guiding light : All‐organic dyes have shown promising potential as an effective sensitizer in DSSCs. Their chemical nature decisively affects the current generation and open‐circuit voltage. Several molecular design strategies of all‐organic dyes to improve DSSC performance as well as factors for the improvement of photocurrent generation and reduction of improper recombination are discussed (see figure).