Electrolyte/Dye/TiO₂ Interfacial Structures of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Revealed by <i>In Situ</i> Neutron Reflectometry with Contrast Matching

The nature of an interfacial structure buried within a device assembly is often critical to its function. For example, the dye/TiO2 that comprises working electrode dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) governs photovoltaic output. These structures have been determined outside DSC device, using ex situ characterization methods; yet, they really should be probed while held since are modulated by environment. Dye/TiO2 will particularly influenced layer electrolyte ions lies above dye self-assembly. We show electrolyte/dye/TiO2 can resolved in neutron reflectometry with contrast matching. find constituents ingress into self-assembled monolayer molecules anchor onto TiO2. Some anchoring configurations formation electrolyte/dye intermolecular interactions. electrolyte-influencing structural changes affect dye-regeneration and electron-injection operational processes. This underpins importance this determination interfaces representative environments.