Cation effects in nanocrystalline solar cells

Over the past 20 years, the pioneering work of Michael Grätzel and coworkers has led to the development of highly efficient nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells. The energy conversion mechanism of dye-sensitized solar cells involves photoinduced interfacial electron transfer reactions. The cation concentration at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface exerts a profound influence on the mechanism and efficiency of these electron transfer reactions. In this article, we review significant contributions to the understanding of cation effects in nanocrystalline solar cells.