Photovoltaics, or solar cells, are fast growing both with regards to industrialization and research. Globally, the total PV installation is around 40 GW and an annual growth rate of 45% has been experienced over recent years. In the comparison between different photovoltaic technologies a figure of merit is the production cost per peak watt of solar electricity produced. For so called second generation thin film solar cells production costs down to and even below 1 $/W−1peak are reported. To be competitive with conventional energy sources for large-scale electricity production new PV technologies need to aim at production costs below 0.5 $/W−1peak. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) is a molecular solar cell technology which have the potential to achieve production costs below 0.5 $/W−1peak. DSC is based on molecular and nanometer-scale components. Record cell efficiencies of 12%, promising stability data and means of energy efficient production methods have been accomplished. As selling points for the DSC technology the prospect of low-cost investments and fabrication are key features. DSCs offer the possibilities to design solar cells with a large flexibility in shape, color, and transparency.

This chapter describes the basic principles of the operation of DSC, the state-of-the-art, the materials development that is currently taking place as well as the potentials for future development.

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