Lars Kloo

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is the only solar cell that can offer both the flexibility and transparency. Its efficiency is comparable to amorphous silicon solar cells but with a much lower cost. This review not only covers the fundamentals of DSSC but also the related cutting-edge research and its development for industrial applications. Most recent research topics on DSSC, for example, applications of nanostructured TiO2, ZnO electrodes, ionic liquid electrolytes, carbon nanotubes, graphene and solid state DSSC have all been included and discussed.

Definition of the halogen bond (IUPAC Recommendations 2013)

This recommendation proposes a definition for the term “halogen bond”, which designates a specific subset of the inter- and intramolecular interactions involving a halogen atom in a molecular entity.

Carbazole-based hole-transport materials for efficient solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells and perovskite solar cells.

Two carbazole-based small molecule hole-transport materials (HTMs) are synthesized and investigated in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The HTM X51-based devices exhibit high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 6.0% and 9.8% in ssDSCs and PSCs, respectively. These results are superior or comparable to those of 5.5% and 10.2%, respectively, obtained for the analogous cells using the state-of-the-art HTM Spiro-OMeTAD.

Organic Redox Couples and Organic Counter Electrode for Efficient Organic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

A series of organic thiolate/disulfide redox couples have been synthesized and have been studied systematically in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) on the basis of an organic dye (TH305). Photophysical, photoelectrochemical, and photovoltaic measurements were performed in order to get insights into the effects of different redox couples on the performance of DSCs. The polymeric, organic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) material has also been introduced as counter electrode in this kind of noniodine-containing DSCs showing a promising conversion efficiency of 6.0% under AM 1.5G, 100 mW·cm(-2) light illumination. Detailed studies using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear-sweep voltammetry reveal that the reduction of disulfide species is more efficient on the PEDOT counter electrode surface than on the commonly used platinized conducting glass electrode. Both pure and solvated ionic-liquid electrolytes based on a thiolate anion have been studied in the DSCs. The pure and solvated ionic-liquid-based electrolytes containing an organic redox couple render efficiencies of 3.4% and 1.2% under 10 mW·cm(-2) light illumination, respectively.

Commemorating two centuries of iodine research: An interdisciplinary overview of current research

Iodine was discovered as a novel element in 1811 during the Napoleonic Wars. To celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of this event we reflect on the history and highlight the many facets of iodine research that have evolved since its discovery. Iodine has an impact on many aspects of life on Earth as well as on human civilization. It is accumulated in high concentrations by marine algae, which are the origin of strong iodine fluxes into the coastal atmosphere which influence climatic processes, and dissolved iodine is considered a biophilic element in marine sediments. Iodine is central to thyroid function in vertebrates, with paramount implications for human health. Iodine can exist in a wide range of oxidation states and it features a diverse supramolecular chemistry. Iodine is amenable to several analytical techniques, and iodine compounds have found widespread use in organic synthesis. Elemental iodine is produced on an industrial scale and has found a wide range of applications in innovative materials, including semiconductors--in particular, in solar cells.

A low-cost spiro[fluorene-9,9′-xanthene]-based hole transport material for highly efficient solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells and perovskite solar cells

A low-cost spiro[fluorene-9,9′-xanthene] (SFX) based organic hole transport material (HTM) termed X60 was designed and synthesized using a two-step synthetic route. Devices with X60 as HTM showed high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) amounting to 7.30% in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSCs) and 19.84% in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), under 100 mW cm−2 AM1.5G solar illumination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of an easily synthesized spiro-structured HTM that shows comparable performance with respect to the well-known HTM Spiro-OMeTAD in both ssDSCs and PSCs. Furthermore, the facile synthesis of X60 from commercially available starting materials makes this HTM very promising for large-scale industrial production in the future.

Efficient Organic-Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on an Iodine-Free Electrolyte†

An org. redox couple (McMT-/BMT) was used in dye-sensitized solar cells. Based on a low-cost org. dye, TH305, an efficiency of 4.0% was achieved under simulated sunlight (100 mW/cm2). Photoelectrochem. measurements provided insight into the difference between the org. redox couple and traditional I-based electrolytes.

Iodine/iodide-free redox shuttles for liquid electrolyte-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells have attracted intense academic interest over the past two decades. For a long time, the development of new redox systems has fallen far behind that of the sensitizing dyes and other materials. However, the field has received renewed attention recently. In particular, in 2011, the Gratzel group published a record DSC efficiency of 12.3% by using a new Co-complex-based electrolyte. In this review, we will provide an overview of iodine/iodide-free redox systems for liquid electrolytes, and reveal that the design of an efficient redox system should combine with appropriate sensitizing dyes which is the pivotal challenge for highly efficient DSCs.

Liquid electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

The present review offers a survey of liquid electrolytes used in dye-sensitized solar cells from the beginning of photoelectrochemical cell research. It handles both the solvents employed, and the prerequisites identified for an ideal liquid solvent, as well as the various effects of electrolyte solutes in terms of redox systems and additives. The conclusions of the present review call for more detailed molecular insight into the electrolyte-electrode interface reactions and structures.

A thiolate/disulfide ionic liquid electrolyte for organic dye-sensitized solar cells based on Pt-free counter electrodes

The ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate, was employed to prepare a thiolate/disulfide ionic liquid electrolyte with low viscosity for organic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). CoS was introduced and showed better photovoltaic performance in DSCs than the ubiquitous platinized FTO CE.