CuGaO2: a promising alternative for NiO in p-type dye solar cells

CuGaO2 is used here as photocathode in place of NiO for a p-type dye-sensitized solar cell with iodide/triiodide (I−/I3−) or tris(4,4′-bis-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine)cobalt (Co2+/Co3+) as redox mediator, and PMI or PMI-NDI as sensitizer. Both photovoltaic characteristics and flat band potentials suggest that CuGaO2 can be viewed as a promising substitute for NiO.