Present status of metal-free photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

The present solar cell technologies, viz. Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells have been arisen as forefront photovoltaic cells because of their ability to function under weak-light conditions, low internal temperature, and broader absorption. Additionally, these solar cells are cost-effective and have a simple fabrication process compared to inorganic Si solar cells. The DSSC contains the sensitization of a semiconducting layer (dye) as the main component in its structure, which plays a vital role in determining its photovoltaic performance. Metal-free organic dyes among various types of dyes have been used widely because of their functionality, low-cost processing, and non-toxicity in nature. Therefore, the development of different metal-free organic sensitizer has gained considerable attention over the past years. This short review report incorporates the recent advancements on various metal-free organic sensitizers and their photovoltaic characteristics for Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).