Nanomaterials in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Exploring clean and renewable energy resources is a key driver for the sustainable development of human society. Among the various clean energy techniques, photovoltaic (PV) solar cells present an ideal solution that can ultimately solve the energy problem without too much environmental burden. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising third-generation PV technology that takes advantages of low material cost and relatively high performance. The compatibility of fabrication processes with the flexible substrates and roll-to-roll production greatly enhances the promise of DSSCs toward industrial applications. Several key parameters for their commercialization, such as device efficiency and long-term stability, have been rigorously evaluated through academic and industrial collaborations, which give us more confidence in the bright future of this new technology. During the advancement of DSSCs, nanomaterials play a key role in device performance enhancement and the development of new concepts. In this chapter, we will rationalize these exacting achievements regarding the innovations of nanomaterials at various length scales for DSSC applications, and discuss the prospective pathways toward highly efficient and stable DSSCs for their real applications