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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
We report a solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with a record efficiency of 4% under simulated sunlight (AM1.5global, 100mW/cm2). This was made possible by using a new amphiphilic dye with hydrophobic spacers in combination with spiro-OMeTAD. We attribute the significant improvement in the device performance to the self-assembly of the dye to form a compact layer on the TiO2 surface and to the hydrophobic chains working as blocking layer between spiro-OMeTAD and TiO2 to reduce the back electron transfer. In addition, we studied the influence of nanoporous TiO2 film thickness on the performance of the device. These results demonstrate the high potential for solid state dye sensitized solar cells to compete with amorphous silicon cells as low cost alternative.