Recently, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have great potentials owing to their aesthetic colors, transparency, low cost and high performance under indoor light. For real commercialization, however, there are still several issues, such as robust high-performance dyes in thin film photoelectrode (2 μm), nonvolatile electrolytes, and easy device fabrication instead of overnight dye soaking process. In addition, it will be also necessary to suggest a new field that goes beyond outdoor or window applications. In this presentation, thus, we will introduce our group’s strategy to come up with these issues mentioned above.

 

 First, we have focused on stable organic sensitizers (D-π-A) suitable for thin film photoanodes by controlling the alkyl chain length for efficient adsorption process, the planarity of organic sensitizers and connection bond between donor (D) and π-bridge for charge transfer, back electron transfer, and functional group on donor unit for stability.

 

 In addition, to overcome organic solvent-based electrolyte’s evaporation problem, we have studied the new electrolytes (hole generators) such as pb-free perovskite, a polymer and ionic liquid.

 

 For easy fabrication, we developed a gas bubbling system for reducing soaking time and even distribution of dyes on TiO2 layers and an ultrasonic spray coating technique without soaking process.

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 Lastly, dye-sensitized solar battery that has both properties of energy conversion and storage in a monolithic device will be presented for energy recycling of indoor light and power source of the internet of things as a new application of DSSC.