May 26, 2026
Recent advances in dye-sensitized solar cells (2020–2025): Stability, scalability, and application-driven progress
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have undergone a decisive transition from efficiency-driven laboratory devices to stable, scalable, and application-oriented photovoltaic systems during the period 2020–2025. This review critically analyzes approximately 100 representative and influential DSSC research articles published during the 2020–2025 period, selected on the basis of device performance, operational stability, materials innovation, and relevance to emerging indoor photovoltaic and IoT applications. Particular emphasis is placed on the emergence of copper-based redox mediators, the transition toward quasi-solid and solid electrolytes, advances in photo stable organic sensitizers, and the development of monolithic device architectures. Recent progress has enabled DSSCs to demonstrate indoor power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) exceeding 13% under low-intensity artificial illumination, along with operational lifetimes beyond 10,000 h under controlled indoor testing conditions. Recent progress has enabled DSSCs to demonstrate indoor power conversion efficiencies exceeding 13% under low-intensity artificial illumination, along with operational lifetimes beyond 10,000 h under controlled indoor testing conditions. These advances position DSSCs as leading candidates for indoor photovoltaics and Internet-of-Things (IoT) energy harvesting applications.