On the Use of PEDOT as a Catalytic Counter Electrode Material in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) emerged in the early 1990s as a promising alternative to the classic silicon-based solar cell due to their unique combination of low cost, ease of fabrication, color palette for building integration, and high efficiency in indoor applications. This review article describes the fabrication and the properties of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based catalytic counter electrodes (CEs) for DSSCs. In particular, the electrochemical reactivity PEDOT CEs used in conjunction with alternative redox mediators for DSSCs is outlined. Among alternative redox shuttles, cobalt and copper complexes, as well as totally organic thiolate/disulfide, have been considered. Finally, PEDOT can also be used as a hole conductor material in electrolyte-free solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. This review clearly shows that the progress in DSSCs development is strongly linked to the introduction of PEDOT as a new counter electrode material.