1. Amphiphilic Graft Copolymers as Templates for the Generation of Binary Metal Oxide Mesoporous Interfacial Layers for Solid-State Photovoltaic Cells
    1. Who: Seung Man Lim, Hayeon Jeong, Juyoung Moon, Jung Tae Park
    2. What: Synthesized binary metal oxide mesoporous interfacial layers templated by amphiphilic graft copolymers for solid-state photovoltaic cells.
    3. Where: Nanomaterials (Basel), February 13, 2024.
    4. When: Published in 2024.
    5. Why: To improve the efficiency and stability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by enhancing light harvesting, interconnectivity, and reducing interfacial resistance.
    6. How: They used amphiphilic graft copolymers as structure-directing agents to synthesize the binary metal oxide mesoporous interfacial layers (bi-MO meso IF layer) between a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and nanocrystalline TiO2 (nc-TiO2).
    7. amphiphilic graft copolymers for solid-state photovoltaic cells
  2. Application of machine learning-based read-across structure-property relationship (RASPR) as a new tool for predictive modelling: Prediction of power conversion efficiency (PCE) for selected classes of organic dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
    1. Who: Souvik Pore, Arkaprava Banerjee, Kunal Roy
    2. What: Applied machine learning-based read-across structure-property relationship (RASPR) as a predictive modelling tool to predict power conversion efficiency (PCE) for selected classes of organic dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
    3. Where: Mol Inform, April 2024.
    4. When: Published in 2024.
    5. Why: To develop a new predictive modelling tool for estimating PCE in DSSCs using machine learning-based read-across structure-property relationship (RASPR) method.
    6. How: They utilized the quantitative RASPR (q-RASPR) method to model the PCE of organic dyes in DSSCs. They divided the datasets of three different classes of organic dyes (Phenothiazines, Porphyrins, and Triphenylamines) into training and test sets and developed QSPR models with structural and physicochemical descriptors. The RASPR descriptors were calculated using a Java-based tool, and data fusion was performed with the QSPR descriptors. Machine learning models were developed using both QSPR and RASPR descriptors, and it was found that models with RASPR descriptors showed superior external predictivity compared to models with only structural and physicochemical descriptors.
    7. Applied machine learning-based read-across structure-property relationship (RASPR)
  3. Computational studies of the influence of auxiliary acceptors in the D-A'-π-A structure of organic dyes on the photovoltaic performance of dye solar cells
    1. Who: Omar Britel, Hanane Etabti, Asmae Fitri, Adil Touimi Benjelloun, Mohammed Benzakour, Mohammed Mcharfi
    2. What: Conducted computational studies on the influence of auxiliary acceptors in the D-A'-π-A structure of organic dyes on the photovoltaic performance of dye solar cells.
    3. Where: Published in J Mol Model on February 13, 2024.
    4. When: The research was conducted and published in 2024.
    5. Why: To investigate how different auxiliary acceptors affect the efficiency of organic dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
    6. How: Theoretical studies were conducted using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods to evaluate electronic structures, optical properties, and parameters influencing the power conversion efficiency (PCE).
    7. DFT and TD-DFT methods
  4. Design and Exploration by Quantum Chemical Analysis of Photosensitizers Having [D-π-π- A]- and [D-D-triad-A]-Type Molecular Structure Models for DSSC
    1. Who: Ankit Kargeti, Rudra Sankar Dhar, Shamoon Ahmad Siddiqui, Na'il Saleh
    2. What: Conducted quantum chemical analysis on newly developed photosensitizers with [D-D-triad-A]- and [D-π-π-A]-type molecular structures for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
    3. Where: Published in ACS Omega on February 28, 2024.
    4. When: The research was conducted and published in 2024.
    5. Why: To design and explore photosensitizers for near-infrared absorption in DSSCs.
    6. How: Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed on three novel molecules designed for DSSCs. The absorption spectra were calculated using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). Parameters such as absorption maxima, frontier molecular orbital energy gap, exciton binding energy, and others were analyzed for photovoltaic performance assessment.
    7. DFT and TD-DFT methods
  5. Efficient and Stable All-Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Dual Working Mechanism
    1. Who: Zunyuan Hu, Jianxiao Wang, Chuanlong Cui, Tong Liu, Yonghai Li, Liang Song, Shuguang Wen, Xichang Bao
    2. What: Synthesized a novel wideband gap polymer donor, PBB2-Hs, to optimize all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) through a ternary strategy.
    3. Where: Published in Small on February 25, 2024, online ahead of print.
    4. When: The research was conducted and published in 2024.
    5. Why: To enhance the performance, photostability, and mechanical stability of all-PSCs using a novel wideband gap polymer donor.
    6. How: The wideband gap polymer donor, PBB2-Hs, was introduced to the all-PSCs to optimize photon capture and charge transfer through efficient energy transfer and cascade energy levels. The ternary blend film achieved a champion efficiency of 17.66%, while maintaining 82% photostability (24 h) and 91% storage stability (1000 h) of the original power conversion efficiency (PCE). Additionally, the molecular stacking and entanglement between PBB2-Hs and the host material increased the elongation at break of the ternary blend film, allowing the flexible device to maintain 83% of the original efficiency after 800 bends.
    7. all-PSCs
      1. efficiency of 17.66%
  6. Highly Efficient DSSCs Sensitized Using NIR Responsive Bacteriopheophytine-a and Its Derivatives Extracted from Rhodobacter Sphaeroides Photobacteria
    1. Who: Abdulrahman I Almansour, Raju Suresh Kumar, Khloud Ibrahim Al-Shemaimari, Natarajan Arumugam
    2. What: Utilized Bacteriopheophytine-a (Bhcl) and its derivatives extracted from Rhodobacter Sphaeroides Photobacteria as photosensitizers for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
    3. Where: Published in Molecules on February 21, 2024.
    4. When: The research was conducted and published in 2024.
    5. Why: To explore the use of naturally extracted dyes and their derivatives as photosensitizers for sustainable energy conversion devices, particularly in DSSCs.
    6. How: Rhodobacter Sphaeroides Photobacteria was used as a natural source to extract Bhcl dye, and two cationic derivatives of Bhcl were synthesized. The photophysical properties of Bhcl and its derivatives were investigated, and they were employed as natural sensitizers in the construction of DSSC devices. DSSCs fabricated using these dyes exhibited good photovoltaic performance, with 2AETPPh-Bhcl dye showing the highest power conversion efficiency (η) of 0.38%. This enhancement in performance was attributed to the dye's optimal light absorption in the visible and NIR region and its uniform dispersion on the TiO2 photoanode through electrostatic interaction.
    7. Utilized Bacteriopheophytine-a (Bhcl) and its derivatives
      1. η of 0.38%
  7. Increased solar-driven chemical transformations through surface-induced benzoperylene aggregation in dye-sensitized photoanodes
    1. Who: Didjay F Bruggeman, Remko J Detz, Simon Mathew, Joost N H Reek
    2. What: Explored the impact of benzo[ghi]perylenetriimide (BPTI) dye aggregation on the performance of photoelectrochemical devices.
    3. Where: Published in Photochem Photobiol Sci in March 2024.
    4. When: The research was conducted and published in 2024.
    5. Why: To investigate how dye aggregation affects the performance of photoelectrochemical devices and explore strategies for improving molecular light-harvesting and charge separation properties.
    6. How: By substituting BPTI with alkyl (BPTI-A) or bulky aryl (BPTI-B) moieties, they respectively enabled or suppressed aggregation. The dyes were tested in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) before being applied to dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPECs) for Br2 production coupled to H2 generation. BPTI-A showed higher dye loading on the SnO2 surface than BPTI-B, resulting in enhanced photocurrent and Br2 production. The improved output was attributed to J- and H-aggregation phenomena in BPTI-A photoanodes, leading to improved light harvesting.
    7. benzo[ghi]perylenetriimide (BPTI) dye
  8. Iron-doping and facet engineering of NiSe octahedron for synergistically enhanced triiodide reduction activity in photovoltaics
    1. Who: Chunmei Lv, Jing Liu, Borong Lu, Ke Ye, Guiling Wang, Kai Zhu, Dianxue Cao, Ying Xie
    2. What: Conducted research on iron-doping and facet engineering of NiSe octahedron for synergistically enhanced triiodide reduction activity in photovoltaics.
    3. Where: Published in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science in June 2024.
    4. When: Published in June 2024.
    5. Why: To design cost-effective counter electrode (CE) catalysts for triiodide reduction reaction (IRR) in iodine-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) through heteroatom doping and facet engineering.
    6. How: Density function theory (DFT) calculations were used to demonstrate the benefits of Fe-doped NiSe (111) compared to NiSe (111) in terms of adsorption energy for I3-, increased metal active sites, reinforced charge-transfer ability, and strong interaction between metal sites and I1 atoms. Fe-NiSe (111) and NiSe (111) octahedrons with exposed (111) planes were synthesized, with Fe-NiSe (111) showing improved electrochemical performance with higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than NiSe (111) when used as CE catalysts in DSSCs.
    7. DFT calculations
  9. Iron-Sensitized Solar Cells (FeSSCs)
    1. Who: Mariachiara Pastore, Stefano Caramori, Philippe C Gros
    2. What: Published an article on Iron-Sensitized Solar Cells (FeSSCs)
    3. Where: Acc Chem Res
    4. When: February 1, 2024 (Online ahead of print)
    5. Why: To address the need for sustainable energy devices based on earth-abundant metals and explore the potential of iron as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
    6. How: By conducting research on the development and characterization of iron-sensitized solar cells, focusing on the design of efficient sensitizers and tuning of electrolyte composition
    7. Iron-Sensitized Solar Cells (FeSSCs)
  10. Metallic nanoparticles and hybrids of metallic nanoparticles/graphene nanomaterials for enhanced photon harvesting and charge transport in polymer and dye sensitized solar cells
    1. Who: Tabitha A Amollo
    2. What: Published a review article on metallic nanoparticles and hybrids of metallic nanoparticles/graphene nanomaterials for enhanced photon harvesting and charge transport in polymer and dye sensitized solar cells
    3. Where: Review Heliyon
    4. When: February 24, 2024 (eCollection March 15, 2024)
    5. Why: To examine the potency of plasmonic metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) and hybrids of MNPs/graphene nanomaterials (GNMs) in mitigating challenges faced by polymer solar cells (PSCs) and dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), such as poor optical absorption and charge carrier mobility in PSCs, and charge carrier recombination in DSSCs
    6. How: By discussing the mechanisms by which these nanomaterials enhance light harvesting in PSCs and DSSCs, and highlighting the material characteristics that influence their performance, such as size, shape, and morphology of MNPs. The article presents perspectives and strategies on utilizing plasmonic MNPs and MNPs/GNMs to improve the efficiencies of PSCs and DSSCs.
    7. Review
  11. Multifunctional dual-interface layer enables efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells
    1. Who: Chaofeng Wang, Yi Guo, Shuang Liu, Jiajia Huang, Xiaohui Liu, Jing Zhang, Ziyang Hu, Yuejin Zhu, Like Huang
    2. What: Published a research article on multifunctional dual-interface layer enabling efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells
    3. Where: Phys Chem Chem Phys
    4. When: March 6, 2024
    5. Why: To address the need for improving the performance and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by employing a dual-interface engineering strategy
    6. How: By inserting PFN-Br into the PTAA/perovskite interface to enhance crystallization and covering the perovskite top surface with 3-PyAI to improve interface properties. The interaction mechanisms of PFN-Br and 3-PyAI with perovskites were analyzed, and the performance of the optimized device was evaluated, achieving a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.07% and retaining 80% of its initial performance after aging for 27 days. The study recommends this dual-interface strategy for efficient and reliable PTAA-based PSCs.
    7. inverted perovskite solar cells
  12. Toward the search for new photosensitizers for DSSCs: theoretical study of both substituted Zn(II) and Si(IV) phthalocyanines
    1. Who: Michael Zambrano-Angulo and Gloria Cárdenas-Jirón
    2. What: Theoretical study of substituted Zn(II) and Si(IV) phthalocyanines for DSSCs
    3. Where: Phys Chem Chem Phys
    4. When: Published on February 14, 2024
    5. Why: To investigate the impact of different compounds on electronic, optical, and photovoltaic properties for potential application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
    6. How: Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations to analyze 66 compounds based on zinc(II) and silicon(IV) phthalocyanines.
    7. (DFT) calculations