Recent developments and future perspectives of photoresponsive based chromophores for solar cell applications

Organic chromophores have emerged as promising materials for next-generation solar cells due to their tunable electronic properties, cost-effectiveness, and structural versatility. Systems based on coumarin, dendrimer, perylene, and pyrene derivatives have shown notable performance in DSSCs, PSCs, and OSCs, with typical power conversion efficiencies ranging from ~2–16% depending on molecular design and device architecture. Their donor-π-acceptor frameworks, π-conjugation, and three-dimensional structures enable efficient light absorption, charge transfer, and reduced recombination. Recent advances further highlight the role of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data-driven approaches in predicting photovoltaic performance and accelerating chromophore design. This review focuses on the photoresponsive behavior, molecular engineering strategies, and device-specific applications of organic chromophores, providing a unified structure-property-performance perspective for developing efficient and sustainable solar technologies.