VISIble cOlourless and traNsparent Near-InfraRed dye-sensitized sOlar cell geNeration – VISION-NIR

Silicon-based photovoltaics represent ca. 90 % of the market. This technology is integrated where their properties are advantageous (roof-top or PV plants). Nevertheless, the success of PV penetration into the energetic mix strongly depends on how PV technologies can be diversified to integrate the smard grid, BIPV or urban equipment. The target of VISION is to develop dye-sensitized solar cells converting no more visible light but the near-infrared region to pave the way towards transparent and colorless photovoltaics. The project aims at developing (i) new robust NIR sensitizers (WP1), (ii) a new generation of mesoscopic semi-conducting film adapted to the opto-electronic properties of the NIR dyes (WP2), (iii) a colorless redox couple to regenerate the dye’s reduced state based on one electron redox mediator tailored specifically on modified Fe(+III/+II) and Ni(+IV/III) complexes. Those research activities will rely on a fourth workpackage gathering an arsenal of spectroscopic tools probing from millisecond down to femtosecond processes based on IMVS/IMPS, transient absorption spectroscopy and up-conversion photoluminescence spectroscopy. VISION-NIR targets the development of NIR-DSSC being transparent and colourless exhibiting above 7% power conversion efficiency, stable against IEC61646 protocol,and finally displaying above 75% total transmittance in the whole visible range.