Improved photovoltages for p-type dye-sensitized solar cells using CuCrO2 nanoparticles

CuCrO2 has been investigated as an alternative to conventionally used NiO in p-type dye sensitized solar cells (p-DSCs) using I -/I3 -- and [Co(en)3] 2+/3+-based redox mediators. The favorable valence band edge position of CuCrO2 affords open circuit voltages as high as 734 mV when [Co(en)3]2+/3+ is deployed as redox mediator. This is the highest reported open circuit voltage for any p-DSC to date, introducing mesoporous CuCrO2 electrodes as a promising alternative to traditional NiO.