144
M. B. Ross et al.
3.5 Conclusion
Plasmonic enhancement of dye sensitized solar cells is a young field with a promising
future; only a handful of cells have been built and tested, with those incorporating
only a small selection of the available dyes and nanoparticle shapes. We have shown
that there is a bright future for enhancing dye absorption across the entire solar
spectrum. Coupled with research into the energetics and dynamics of particle-dye
interactions, we expect that plasmon-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells will help to
reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of next generation solar cells.
Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy
Science, grant DE-SC0004752. M.B.R. acknowledges the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship.
References
1. N.S. Lewis, D.G. Nocera, Powering the planet: chemical challenges in solar energy utilization.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104, 20142 (2007)
2. D.M. Powell, M.T. Winkler, H.J. Choi, C.B. Simmons, D.B. Needleman, T. Buonassisi, Crystalline silicon photovoltaics: a cost analysis framework for determining technology pathways
to reach baseload electricity costs. Energy Environ. Sci. 5, 5874 (2012)
3. W. Shockley, H.J. Queisser, Detailed balance limit of efficiency of P–N junction solar cells.
J. Appl. Phys. 32, 510 (1961)
4. A. Hagfeldt, G. Boschloo, L.C. Sun, L. Kloo, H. Pettersson, Dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem.
Rev. 110, 6595 (2010)
5. H.A. Atwater, A. Polman, Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices. Nat. Mater. 9, 205
(2010)
6. B. O’Regan, M. Gratzel, A low-cost, high-efficiency solar-cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353, 737 (1991)
7. A. Yella, H.W. Lee, H.N. Tsao, C.Y. Yi, A.K. Chandiran, M.K. Nazeeruddin, E.W.G. Diau,
C.Y. Yeh, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Gratzel, Porphyrin-sensitized solar cells with cobalt (II/III)based redox electrolyte exceed 12 percent efficiency. Science 334, 629 (2011)
8. M. Gratzel, Photoelectrochemical cells. Nature 414, 338 (2001)
9. K. Zhu, S.R. Jang, A.J. Frank, Impact of high charge-collection efficiencies and dark energyloss processes on transport, recombination, and photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar
cells. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2, 1070 (2011)
10. K. Zhu, N. Kopidakis, N.R. Neale, J. van de Lagemaat, A.J. Frank, Influence of surface area
on charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells. J. Phys. Chem. B
110, 25174 (2006)
11. C. Hagglund, S.P. Apell, Plasmonic near-field absorbers for ultrathin solar cells. J. Phys.
Chem. Lett. 3, 1275 (2012)
12. K.L. Kelly, E. Coronado, L.L. Zhao, G.C. Schatz, The optical properties of m nanoparticles:
The influence of size, shape, and dielectric environment. J. Phys. Chem. B 107, 668 (2003)
13. C. Nahm, H. Choi, J. Kim, D.R. Jung, C. Kim, J. Moon, B. Lee, B. Park, The effects of 100
nm-diameter Au nanoparticles on dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 253107
(2011)
14. M.G. Blaber, G.C. Schatz, Extending SERS into the infrared with gold nanosphere dimers.
Chem. Commun. 47, 3769 (2011)
M. B. Ross et al.
3.5 Conclusion
Plasmonic enhancement of dye sensitized solar cells is a young field with a promising
future; only a handful of cells have been built and tested, with those incorporating
only a small selection of the available dyes and nanoparticle shapes. We have shown
that there is a bright future for enhancing dye absorption across the entire solar
spectrum. Coupled with research into the energetics and dynamics of particle-dye
interactions, we expect that plasmon-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells will help to
reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of next generation solar cells.
Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy
Science, grant DE-SC0004752. M.B.R. acknowledges the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship.
References
1. N.S. Lewis, D.G. Nocera, Powering the planet: chemical challenges in solar energy utilization.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104, 20142 (2007)
2. D.M. Powell, M.T. Winkler, H.J. Choi, C.B. Simmons, D.B. Needleman, T. Buonassisi, Crystalline silicon photovoltaics: a cost analysis framework for determining technology pathways
to reach baseload electricity costs. Energy Environ. Sci. 5, 5874 (2012)
3. W. Shockley, H.J. Queisser, Detailed balance limit of efficiency of P–N junction solar cells.
J. Appl. Phys. 32, 510 (1961)
4. A. Hagfeldt, G. Boschloo, L.C. Sun, L. Kloo, H. Pettersson, Dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem.
Rev. 110, 6595 (2010)
5. H.A. Atwater, A. Polman, Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices. Nat. Mater. 9, 205
(2010)
6. B. O’Regan, M. Gratzel, A low-cost, high-efficiency solar-cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353, 737 (1991)
7. A. Yella, H.W. Lee, H.N. Tsao, C.Y. Yi, A.K. Chandiran, M.K. Nazeeruddin, E.W.G. Diau,
C.Y. Yeh, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Gratzel, Porphyrin-sensitized solar cells with cobalt (II/III)based redox electrolyte exceed 12 percent efficiency. Science 334, 629 (2011)
8. M. Gratzel, Photoelectrochemical cells. Nature 414, 338 (2001)
9. K. Zhu, S.R. Jang, A.J. Frank, Impact of high charge-collection efficiencies and dark energyloss processes on transport, recombination, and photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar
cells. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2, 1070 (2011)
10. K. Zhu, N. Kopidakis, N.R. Neale, J. van de Lagemaat, A.J. Frank, Influence of surface area
on charge transport and recombination in dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells. J. Phys. Chem. B
110, 25174 (2006)
11. C. Hagglund, S.P. Apell, Plasmonic near-field absorbers for ultrathin solar cells. J. Phys.
Chem. Lett. 3, 1275 (2012)
12. K.L. Kelly, E. Coronado, L.L. Zhao, G.C. Schatz, The optical properties of m nanoparticles:
The influence of size, shape, and dielectric environment. J. Phys. Chem. B 107, 668 (2003)
13. C. Nahm, H. Choi, J. Kim, D.R. Jung, C. Kim, J. Moon, B. Lee, B. Park, The effects of 100
nm-diameter Au nanoparticles on dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 253107
(2011)
14. M.G. Blaber, G.C. Schatz, Extending SERS into the infrared with gold nanosphere dimers.
Chem. Commun. 47, 3769 (2011)