Coupling of a copper dye with a copper electrolyte: A fascinating springboard for sustainable dye-Sensitized solar cells

A simple new heteroleptic copper dye, bearing one 2,9-dimesityl-1,10-phenanthroline and a 6,6?-dimethyl-2,2?-bipyridine-4,4?-dibenzoic acid anchoring ligand, was used as photosensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). High power conversion efficiencies are reached not only with conventional I-/I3- electrolyte (40% relative conversion efficiency respect to N719) but, remarkably, also with a well-designed copper-based electrolyte. These proof-of-principle "full-copper" DSSCs open a fascinating route for environmentally friendly DSSCs.