Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 27 (1992) 291 North-Holland Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells Editorial Comment It is our pleasure at Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells to be involved in a science that is rapidly advancing and making contributions to clean, renewable energy technologies. One such recent development is the Gr~itzel and O'Regan solar cell, in part described on pages 293-304 of this issue by Anders Hagfeldt et al. The technology of sensitization is not new. A monolayer of a dye or semicon- ductor can be used to extend the range of wavelength response in a larger bandgap material. In fact, the original thin film cell, the CdS-Cu2_xS cell, may be viewed from this standpoint. What is new is the use of a highly porous, high surface area, large bandgap support, such as TiO 2, to allow for improved light absorption, while maintaining efficient charge carrier injection. I had the chance to visit the labora- tory of Dr. Gratzel at the EPFL in Lausanne in February and July of this year. It was made clear that with no more than a simple furnace and a Ru organometallic dye, solar cells that are 7-12% efficient are easily realized by a low cost process. In fact, it is planned to release these cells later this year for testing of longevity and power output. The concept of a porous TiO 2 is not restricted to organic systems. I have been involved with the implementation of this technology at the Hahn Meitner Institute in Berlin, where it will be used in FeS/ and other inorganic sensitizers (A. Ennaoui et al., Sol. Energy Mater. Solar Cells 25 (1992) 169). The TiO2 membrane or film described in the Hagfeldt paper is a critical part of this new technology. It represents this journal's continued interest in this, and other, ground breaking solar materials. Greg Smestad European Editor Villigen-PSI, Switzerland August 1992 0927-0248/92/$05.00 © 1992 - Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved

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Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 27 (1992) 291 North-Holland

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Editorial Comment

It is our pleasure at Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells to be involved in a science that is rapidly advancing and making contributions to clean, renewable energy technologies. One such recent development is the Gr~itzel and O'Regan solar cell, in part described on pages 293-304 of this issue by Anders Hagfeldt et al. The technology of sensitization is not new. A monolayer of a dye or semicon- ductor can be used to extend the range of wavelength response in a larger bandgap material. In fact, the original thin film cell, the CdS-Cu2_xS cell, may be viewed from this standpoint. What is new is the use of a highly porous, high surface area, large bandgap support, such as TiO 2, to allow for improved light absorption, while maintaining efficient charge carrier injection. I had the chance to visit the labora- tory of Dr. Gratzel at the EPFL in Lausanne in February and July of this year. It was made clear that with no more than a simple furnace and a Ru organometallic dye, solar cells that are 7 -12% efficient are easily realized by a low cost process. In fact, it is planned to release these cells later this year for testing of longevity and power output. The concept of a porous TiO 2 is not restricted to organic systems. I have been involved with the implementation of this technology at the Hahn Meitner Institute in Berlin, where it will be used in FeS/ and other inorganic sensitizers (A. Ennaoui et al., Sol. Energy Mater. Solar Cells 25 (1992) 169). The TiO2 membrane or film described in the Hagfeldt paper is a critical part of this new technology. It represents this journal's continued interest in this, and other, ground breaking solar materials.

Greg Smestad European Editor

Villigen-PSI, Switzerland August 1992