An All-Carbon Counter Electrode for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are an inexpensive alternative to thin film solar cells. However the efficiency of these solar cells needs to be improved by a factor of 2 and their cost further reduced in order to be competitive in the market. Northwestern University researchers have developed a DSSC that is 50% more efficient than any other solar cell of its kind. The key design features that allow for this significant improvement are the carbon electrode and the plastic electrolyte. Until these innovations were made DSSC electrodes were made of platinum an expensive precious metal. Traditional DSSCs also used liquid electrolytes which made them less stable. The combination of these novel design features will foster further research into DSSCs and make them a viable competitor to thin film solar cells. Applications: Dye sensitized solar cells