Photochromic dye-sensitized solar cells with light-driven adjustable optical transmission and power conversion efficiency

Huaulme, Quentin; Mwalukuku, Valid M.; Joly, Damien; Liotier, Johan; Kervella, Yann; Maldivi, Pascale; Narbey, Stephanie; Oswald, Frederic; Riquelme, Antonio J.; Anta, Juan Antonio; Demadrille, Renaud

Publicación: NATURE ENERGY
2020
VL / 5 - BP / 468 - EP / 477
abstract
Semi-transparent photovoltaics only allow for the fabrication of solar cells with an optical transmission that is fixed during their manufacturing resulting in a trade-off between transparency and efficiency. For the integration of semi-transparent devices in buildings, ideally solar cells should generate electricity while offering the comfort for users to self-adjust their light transmission with the intensity of the daylight. Here we report photochromic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on dyes with a donor-pi-conjugated-bridge-acceptor structure where the pi-conjugated bridge is substituted by a diphenyl-naphthopyran photochromic unit. DSSCs show change in colour and self-adjustable light transmittance when irradiated and demonstrate a power conversion efficiency up to 4.17%. The colouration-decolouration process is reversible and these DSSCs are stable over 50 days. We also report semi-transparent photo-chromo-voltaic mini-modules (active area of 14 cm(2)) exhibiting a maximum power output of 32.5 mW after colouration. Building-integrated installation of semi-transparent solar cells is limited by a trade-off between transparency and efficiency. Now, Huaulme et al. demonstrate dye-sensitized solar cells with photochromic sensitizers that adjust their light transmission and power conversion efficiency with light exposure.

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