Nanostructured Solar Cells

Novel types of solar cells based on nanostructured materials are intensively studied because of their prospective applications and interesting new working principle – essentially due to the nanomaterials used They have evolved from dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) in the quest to improve their behavior and characteristics. Their nanocrystals (ca. 10-50 nm) do not generally show the confinement effect present in quantum dots of size ca. 1-10nm where electron wave functions are strongly confined originating changes in the band structure. Nonetheless, the nanocrystalline character of the semiconductor used determines a different working principle; which is explained, although it is not completely clear so far,. Different solid nanostructured solar cells are briefly reviewed together with research trends. Finally, the influence of the photoelectrode electron-extracting contact is analyzed.