Dye-sensitized solar cells - an idea whose time has finally come?
Douglas Natelson (noreply@blogger.com)
Dyes are generally small molecules that have electronic transitions with energies corresponding to the visible spectrum of light (around 1-3 eV). Around 35 years ago, the idea was put forward, particularly by Michael Grätzel and Brian O'Regan , to couple dye molecules to semiconductors and electrolytes, so that when the dye molecules are excited by light, the electrons/holes can be captured and used for photovoltaic power. This is the concept behind dye-sensitized solar cells , as demonstrated