Abundant Metal-based Sensitization in DSSCs

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are emerging as a promising technology in the renewable energy sector, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells. So far, ruthenium (II)-based devices are among the most efficient DSSCs, thanks to excellent light absorption and stability. However, ruthenium is a critical raw material with limited availability and high cost, prompting the need to explore more abundant and affordable alternatives. This review focuses on the potential of coordination complexes of first row d-block metals (e.g., iron, copper, nickel, cobalt) as dyes in DSSCs, addressing the key challenge of improving their photoconversion efficiencies (PCEs) to compete with ruthenium-based counterparts.