Supramolecular Co-adsorption on TiO2to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

• Three novel push-pull dyes, with carbazole donors, codedAJ502,TZ101andTZ102are synthesized and applied as co-sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).TZ101andTZ102have similar structures except for two fluorine atoms introduced on the benzotriazole (BTZ) unit.AJ502shows a near-IR absorption spectrum that is suitable for co-sensitization withTZ101andTZ102. The co-sensitized DSSC device based onCO-1(AJ502 : TZ101= 3 : 4 (0.075 mM : 0.1 mM)) achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.3% under AM 1.5G irradiation, with 1.06 V open-circuit voltage (Voc), 13.75 mA cm−2short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc), and 70.8% fill factor (FF), a significant improvement compared to the single dye, 6.0% forAJ502and 5.1% forTZ101with a copper(i/ii)-based redox electrolyte. A PCE of 8.9% is also obtained by devices based onCO-2(AJ502 : TZ102= 3 : 4). ForCO-1, the fluorine atoms inTZ101play a critical role by widening the active light capturing bands of bothTZ101andAJ502on the TiO2film whileTZ102andAJ502show weaker interaction under the same conditions. The UV-vis spectrum and Raman spectrum revealed thatAJ502can form supramolecules withTZ101andTZ102formed on the TiO2film. 

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Absorption spectroscopy

Conversion efficiency

Efficiency

Electrolytes

Fluorine

Open circuit voltage

Photocurrents

Carbazole donors

Co-sensitization

Light capturing

Near-IR absorption

Photocurrent density

Power conversion efficiencies

Redox electrolytes

UV-Vis spectrum

Dye-sensitized solar cells

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)