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This is from Monash University "materials engineering newsletter " ,linking Dr Bach from the Catalyst story and Dyesol .Yes it is Dyesol

The development of renewable energy sources that are alternative to fossil fuels is a burgeoning scientific area. Solar cells convert the energy of the sun to electricity with little or no emission to the environment. Reducing the cost of converting solar energy into electricity is a global endeavor that is attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. A vibrant team consisting of researchers at the Department of Materials Engineering and the School of Chemistry, Monash University is at forefront of research for dye-sensitised solar cells, a new type of solar energy devices that is now recognised as the most significant alternative photovoltaic technology to silicon wafer-based solar cells.
The nanocrystalline dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) incorporates an inorganic nanostructured semiconductor film (usually a 10 to 20 micron porous TiO2 layer) that is coated with a monolayer of a photoactive dye, and a conducting electrolyte that contains a redox couple (1). In DSSCs, the main charge-transfer processes take place at the semiconductor/dye/electrolyte interfaces. When a photon of light is absorbed by the dye an electron is excited and injected into the TiO2 semiconductor. The electrons migrate through the TiO2 nanoparticles to the external load and to the counter electrode which is a conductive coated glass, and rejuvenate the original state of the dye through the electrolyte. The repeating process generates an electron current. High incident photon to electron conversions efficiencies (IPCE >70 %) and overall cell efficiencies of over 10% have been achieved with this novel device.
The dye-sensitised solar cells have a number of features that distinguish them from silicon based solar cells. A major component of the cell, titanium dioxide (TiO2), is an industrial material widely used as a pigment in paints and as an additive in toothpaste and cosmetic products, and thus is available at low cost. The cost of the dye is not prohibitive since only a monolayer coating of the titania surface is required. The simplicity of the cell design and low cost of the materials used offer promise of drastically reduced production costs, lighter weight devices and easier fabrication into large sizes when compared to the silicon-based solar cells. Another important feature of the DSSCs is their superior performance than silicon cells in low incident light, making them more suitable for indoor applications. In contrast to devices based on silicon wafers, where flat assemblies are preferred, the DSSC has the potential to be made into flexible devices on polymer substrates that can fit on surfaces with intricate contours. A great attraction of this flexibility is that they may be “painted” on any appropriate surface, such as car roofs and roof tiles, or be “printed” and molded into any shape.
The development of dye sensitised solar cells is still at the research stage at the present time. Major technical issues remain to affect the efficiency, lifetime and processibility of the devices. A multi-disciplinary approach for materials development, device fabrication and optimization has been taken at Monash through collaborations between Professors Maria Forsyth, Yi-Bing Cheng of Materials Engineering and Doug Macfarlane, Leone Spiccia of Chemistry. The research team is further strengthened by the joining of Dr Udo Bach, an experienced DSSC researcher from Professor Michael Grätzel’s lab where the DSSC was originally invented. More than ten postgraduates and research fellows are working in a range of areas covering synthesis of solid state electrolytes, infrared sensitive dyes, novel nanostructures of TiO2 particles, monolithic and tandem cell devices. These activities are part of the research programs funded by the newly established ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES). http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/mat/aces/index.html The DSSC research team at Monash is also a major partner in the Victorian Consortium for Organic Solar Cells (VICOSC) for winning a $6M grant from the Victorian Government recently to produce prototype organic solar cells printed on plastics within 3 years. http://www.vicosc.unimelb.edu.au/

Yi-Bing Cheng