Perylene‐Based Dyes in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Structural Development and Synthetic Strategies

Abstract The versatile absorption and fluorescence properties alongside the outstanding chemical and photostability make the rylene‐based derivatives one of the most investigated compounds in the field of third‐generation solar cells. Over the last 25 years, an intensive research activity has made the rylene‐based derivatives one of the most interesting and modular class of sensitizers in the dye‐sensitized solar cells. This critical analysis compares and discusses the state of the art of the rylene‐based dyes, starting from the pioneering studies on the perylene bisimides to the latest N‐annulated rylene derivatives. The focus of this review is to discuss the structure‐to‐properties relationship highlighting how critical points have been overcome and what are the most recent approaches toward the achievement of novel record efficiencies in the dye‐sensitized solar cells.