MOFs-based dye-sensitized photovoltaics

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were first invented in 1991 by Gratzel and coworkers. The environmental friendliness, cost-efficient, and easy fabricate properties of these solar cell have attracted by the many researchers. Typically, DSSCs consist of four components: the photoanode consisting of a wide-bandgap semiconductor, the sensitizer acting as a light harvester, the electrolyte containing the redox couple for dye regeneration, and the counterelectrode. Although many materials have been used in DSSCs until today, the most used traditionally components are TiO2 photoanode, N719 ruthenium-based metal complex dye, I3−/I− redox mediator, and Pt counterelectrode. Solar cell efficiency of about 14% were obtained with this type of DSSCs. MOF constructs were developed at the same time as DSSCs. MOF structures are used in many fields due to their unique surface, electrochemical, and physicochemical properties. For this purpose, MOF structures are used especially to increase the performance of DSSCs. In this book chapter, the effects of using MOFs in DSSC construction on the working mechanisms of DSSCs as well as their efficiency are examined in detail. A perspective has been drawn for the future use of MOF structures in DSSC manufacturing and the directions in which applications will advance.