Dye-sensitized solar cells with polyaniline: A review

Abstract

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) or Grätzel cells have attracted widespread attention due to their low cost, ease of fabrication, and reasonably good photochemical conversion efficiency. The photochemical efficiency of solar cells mainly depends on their design, development, electrodes, and electrolyte used. The use of conducting polymers in solar cells helps in reducing the cost of DSSCs with the same efficiency. Polyaniline acts as a promising conductive polymer mainly used as a counter electrode catalyst on FTO glass as well as on flexible substrates. It allows large-scale mass production and significant cost savings in the manufacturing of solar cells. This paper reviews the feasibility of Polyaniline and its composites as a counter-electrode catalyst for DSSCs. Its application as hole conductors, a catalyst for photosensitized electrolytes. The mechanism of its photocatalytic activities is well explained. The Polyaniline and Polyaniline based solar cells shows the efficiency from 7.1 to 12% with different dyes and electrolyte solutions. The recent advances made with this polymer, a suitable replacement for platinum, is also intensely reviewed.