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The present and future global energy needs in today’s concern demand for the exploration of renewable and sustainable energy sources and the solar energy in this aspect is one of the most promising sources that can be easily exploited, being inexhaustible and abundant in supply. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a way front in this regard that is considered as new generation low cost solar (photovoltaic) cell exploiting the use of various light absorbing dye molecules absorbed on semiconductor nanoparticle to generate electricity from the sunlight. Being simple in structure and material composition, having low manufacturing cost, efficient energy convertor and ecofriendly, these DSSCs are the promising and sustainable solution to the future energy and environmental concerns. However, their exploitation as an efficient energy converter is linked to the various materials viz., the transparent substrate for receiving sunlight, dye or sensitizers, conducting and counter-conducting electrode and an electrolyte which are used in its construction. This critical review thus investigated the various aspects regarding the material used in the construction/synthesis of these DSSCs, their various applications, and the challenges in their commercialization.
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