CdSe Quantum Dots and N719‐Dye Decorated Hierarchical TiO2 Nanorods for the Construction of Efficient Co‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Three‐dimensional hierarchical TiO₂ nanorods (HTNs) decorated with the N719 dye and 3‐mercaptopropionic or oleic acid capped CdSe quantum dots (QDs) in photoanodes for the construction of TiO₂ nanorod‐based efficient co‐sensitized solar cells are reported. These HTN co‐sensitized solar cells showed a maximum power‐conversion efficiency of 3.93 %, and a higher open‐circuit voltage and fill factor for the photoanode with 3‐mercaptopropionic acid capped CdSe QDs due to the strong electronic interactions between CdSe QDs, N719 dye and HTNs, and the superior light‐harvesting features of the HTNs. An electrochemical impedance analysis indicated that the superior charge‐collection efficiency and electron diffusion length of the CdSe QD‐coated HTNs improved the photovoltaic performance of these HTN co‐sensitized solar cells.     

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of a low‐band‐gap polymer consisting of alternating thiophene and benzothiadiazole derivatives for bulk‐heterojunction and dye‐sensitized solar cells

We synthesized a novel low‐band‐gap, conjugated polymer, poly[4,7‐bis(3′,3′‐diheptyl‐3,4‐propylenedioxythienyl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole] [poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT)], consisting of alternating electron‐rich, diheptyl‐substituted propylene dioxythiophene and electron‐deficient 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole units, and its photovoltaic properties were investigated. A thin film of poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT) exhibited an optical band gap of 1.55 eV. A bulk‐heterojunction solar cell with indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT): methanofullerene [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) (1:4)/LiF/Al was fabricated with poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT) as an electron donor and PCBM as an electron acceptor and showed an open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current density, and power conversion efficiency of 0.37 V, 3.15 mA/cm², and 0.35% under air mass 1.5 (AM1.5G) illumination (100 mW/cm²), respectively. A solid‐state, dye‐sensitized solar cell with a SnO₂:F/TiO₂/N3 dye/poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT)/Pt device was fabricated with poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT) as a hole‐transport material. This device exhibited a high power conversion efficiency of 3.1%, which is the highest power conversion efficiency value with hole‐transport materials in dye‐sensitized solar cells to date. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1394–1402, 2007     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of a Crystalline Rutile TiO2 Nanorod Based Network for Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

One‐dimensional (1D) TiO₂ nanostructures are desirable as photoanodes in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to their superior electron‐transport capability. However, making use of the DSSC performance of 1D rutile TiO₂ photoanodes remains challenging, mainly due to the small surface area and consequently low dye loading. Herein, a new type of photoanode with a three‐dimensional (3D) rutile‐nanorod‐based network structure directly grown on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates was developed by using a facile two‐step hydrothermal process. The resultant photoanode possesses oriented rutile nanorod arrays for fast electron transport as the bottom layer and radially packed rutile head‐caps with an improved large surface area for efficient dye adsorption. The diffuse reflectance spectra showed that with the radially packed top layer, the light‐harvesting efficiency was increased due to an enhanced light‐scattering effect. A combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), dark current, and open‐circuit voltage decay (OCVD) analyses confirmed that the electron‐recombiantion rate was reduced on formation of the nanorod‐based 3D network for fast electron transport. As a resut, a light‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency of 6.31 % was achieved with this photoanode in DSSCs, which is comparable to the best DSSC efficiencies that have been reported to date for 1D rutile TiO₂.     

Bis(phenothiazyl‐ethynylene)‐Based Organic Dyes Containing Di‐Anchoring Groups with Efficiency Comparable to N719 for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A new series of acetylene‐bridged phenothiazine‐based di‐anchoring dyes have been synthesized, fully characterized, and used as the photoactive layer for the fabrication of conventional dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Tuning of their photophysical and electrochemical properties using different π‐conjugated aromatic rings as the central bridges has been demonstrated. This molecular design strategy successfully inhibits the undesirable charge recombination and prolongs the electron lifetime significantly to improve the power conversion efficiency (η ), which was proven by the detailed studies of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and open‐circuit voltage decay (OCVD). Under a standard air mass (AM) 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm⁻²), the DSSC based on the dye with phenyl bridging unit exhibits the highest η of 7.44 % with open‐circuit photovoltage (V _oc) of 0.796 V, short‐circuit photocurrent density (J _sc) of 12.49 mA cm⁻² and fill factor (ff) of 0.748. This η value is comparable to that of the benchmark N719 under the same conditions.     

Application of the Organic Photosensitizers Bearing Two Carboxylic Acid Groups to Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Three electron donor‐?? bridge‐electron acceptor (D‐π‐A) organic dyes bearing two carboxylic acid groups were applied to dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSC) as sensitizers, in which one triphenylamine or modified triphenylamine and two rhodanine‐3‐acetic acid fragments act as D and A, respectively. It was found that the introduction of t‐butyl or methoxy group in the triphenylamine subunit could lead to more efficient photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer, thus improving the overall photoelectric conversion efficiency of the resultant DSSC. Under global AM 1.5 solar irradiation (73 mW·cm^?2), the dye molecule based on methoxy‐substituted triphenylamine achieved the best photovoltaic performance: a short circuit photocurrent density (J_sc) of 12.63 mA·cm^?2, an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.55 V, a fill factor (FF) of 0.62, corresponding to an overall efficiency (η) of 5.9%.     

Molecular Dyads Comprising Metalloporphyrin and Alkynylplatinum(II) Polypyridine Terminal Groups for Use as a Sensitizer in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A new class of molecular dyads comprising metalloporphyrin‐linked alkynylplatinum(II) polypyridine complexes with carboxylic acids as anchoring groups has been designed and synthesized. These complexes can sensitize nanocrystalline TiO₂ in dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) studies. The photophysical, electrochemical, and luminescence properties of the complexes were studied and their excited‐state properties were investigated by nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, with the charge‐separated [Por^.??{(C?C)Pt(tBu₃tpy)}^.+] state observed upon excitation. Excited‐state redox potentials were determined; the electrochemical data supports the capability of the complexes to inject an electron into the conduction band of TiO₂. The complexes sensitize nanocrystalline TiO₂ and exhibited photovoltaic properties, as characterized by current–voltage measurements under illumination of air mass 1.5 G sunlight (100 mWcm^?2). A DSSC based on one of the complexes showed a short‐circuit photocurrent of 10.1 mAcm^?2, an open‐circuit voltage of 0.64 V, and a fill factor of 0.52, giving an overall power conversion efficiency of 3.4 %.     

Unsymmetric Platinum(II) Bis(aryleneethynylene) Complexes as Photosensitizers for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Four new unsymmetric platinum(II) bis(aryleneethynylene) derivatives have been designed and synthesized, which showed good light‐harvesting capabilities for application as photosensitizers in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The absorption, electrochemical, time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT), impedance spectroscopic, and photovoltaic properties of these platinum(II)‐based sensitizers have been fully characterized. The optical and TD‐DFT studies show that the incorporation of a strongly electron‐donating group significantly enhances the absorption abilities of the complexes. The maximum absorption wavelength of these four organometallic dyes can be tuned by various structural modifications of the triphenylamine and/or thiophene electron donor, improving the light absorption range up to 650 nm. The photovoltaic performance of these dyes as photosensitizers in mesoporous TiO₂ solar cells was investigated, and a power conversion efficiency as high as 1.57 % was achieved, with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.59 V, short‐circuit current density of 3.63 mA cm^?2, and fill factor of 0.73 under simulated AM 1.5G solar illumination.     

Tin chloride perovskite-sensitized core/shell photoanode solar cell with spiro-MeOTAD hole transport material for enhanced solar light harvesting

An attempt has been made to fabricate methyl ammonium tin chloride (CH₃NH₃SnCl₃) perovskite-sensitized TiO₂ nanostructure photoanode solar cell with hole transport material (HTM) spiro-MeOTAD and graphite-coated counter electrode (CE). The TiO₂ nanoparticles (TNPs), TiO₂ nanoleaves (TNLs), and TNLs with MgO core/shell photoanodes were prepared to fabricate perovskite-sensitized solar cells (PSSCs). The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photovoltaic characteristics of the PSSCs, photocurrent density (J _sc), open-circuit voltage (V _oc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) were determined under illumination of AM 1.5 G. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis was carried out to study the charge transport and lifetime of charge carriers at the photoanode–sensitizer–electrolyte interface of the PSSCs. The PSSC made with CH₃NH₃SnCl₃ perovskite-sensitized TNL–MgO core/shell photoanode and spiro-MeOTAD HTM shows an impressive photovoltaic performance, with J _sc = 17.24 mA/cm², V _oc = 800 mV, FF = 73 %, and PCE = 9.98 % under 100 mW/cm² light intensity. The advent of such simple solution-processed mesoscopic heterojunction solar cells paves the way to realize low-cost and high-efficiency solar cells. By the aid of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it is revealed that the core/shell structure can increase an interfacial resistance of the photoanode–CH₃NH₃SnCl₃ interface and retard an electron recombination process in the photoanode–sensitizer–HTM interface.     

The Origin of Higher Open‐Circuit Voltage in Zn‐Doped TiO2 Nanoparticle‐Based Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Zn‐doped anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles are synthesized by a one‐step hydrothermal method. Detailed electrochemical measurements are undertaken to investigate the origin of the effect of Zn doping on the performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It is found that incorporation of Zn²⁺ into an anatase lattice elevates the edge of the conduction band (CB) of the photoanodes and the Fermi level is shifted toward the CB edge, which contributes to the improvement in open‐circuit voltage (V_OC). Charge‐density plots across the cell voltage further confirm the increase in the CB edge in DSSCs directly. Photocurrent and transient photovoltage measurements are employed to study transport and recombination dynamics. The electron recombination is accelerated at higher voltages close to the CB edge, thus leading to a negative effect on the V_OC.     

Mechanism of Back Electron Transfer in an Intermolecular Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reaction: Solvent as a Charge Mediator

Back electron transfer (BET) is one of the important processes that govern the decay of generated ion pairs in intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer reactions. Unfortunately, a detailed mechanism of BET reactions remains largely unknown in spite of their importance for the development of molecular photovoltaic structures. Here, we examine the BET reaction of pyrene (Py) and 1,4‐dicyanobenzene (DCB) in acetonitrile (ACN) by using time‐resolved near‐ and mid‐IR spectroscopy. The Py dimer radical cation (Py₂^.+) and DCB radical anion (DCB^.?) generated after photoexcitation of Py show asynchronous decay kinetics. To account for this observation, we propose a reaction mechanism that involves electron transfer from DCB^.? to the solvent and charge recombination between the resulting ACN dimer anion and Py₂^.+. The unique role of ACN as a charge mediator revealed herein could have implications for strategies that retard charge recombination in dye‐sensitized solar cells.     

Electron Transport in Quasi‐Two‐Dimensional Porous Network of Titania Nanoparticles,Incorporating Electrical and Optical Advantages in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

The integration of fast electron transport and large effective surface area is critical to attaining higher gains in the nanostructured photovoltaic devices. Here, we report facilitated electron transport in the quasi‐two‐dimensional (Q2D) porous TiO₂. Liquid electrolyte dye‐sensitized solar cells were prepared by utilizing photoanodes based on the Q2D porous substructures. Due to electron confinement in a microscale porous medium, directional diffusion toward collecting electrode is induced into the electron transport. Our measurements based on the photocurrent and photovoltage time‐of‐flight transients show that at higher Fermi levels, the electron diffusion coefficient in the Q2D porous TiO₂ is about one order of magnitude higher when compared with the conventional layer of porous TiO₂. The results show that microstructuring of the porous TiO₂ leads to an approximately threefold improvement in the electron diffusion length. Such a modification may considerably affects the electrical functionality of moderate or low performance dye‐sensitized solar cells for which the internal gain or collection efficiency is typically low.     

Functionalized Alkynylplatinum(II) Polypyridyl Complexes for Use as Sensitizers in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A series of platinum(II) alkynyl‐based sensitizers has been synthesized and found to show light‐to‐electricity conversion properties. These dyes were developed as sensitizers for the application in nanocrystalline TiO₂ dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were studied. The excited‐state property was probed using nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, which showed the formation of a charge‐separated state that arises from the intramolecular photoinduced charge transfer from the platinum(II) alkynylbithienylbenzothiadiazole moiety (donor) to the polypyridyl ligand (acceptor). A lifetime of 3.4 μs was observed for the charge‐separated state. A dye‐sensitized solar cell based on one of the complexes showed a short‐circuit photocurrent of 7.12 mA cm^?2, an open circuit voltage of 780 mV, and a fill factor of 0.65, thus giving an overall power conversion efficiency of 3.6 %.     

β‐Functionalized Push–Pull opp‐Dibenzoporphyrins as Sensitizers for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A novel class of β‐functionalized push–pull zinc opp ‐dibenzoporphyrins were designed, synthesized, and utilized as sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells. Spectral, electrochemical, and computational studies were systematically performed to evaluate their spectral coverage, redox behavior, and electronic structures. These porphyrins displayed much broader spectral coverage and more facile oxidation upon extension of the π conjugation. Free‐energy calculations and femtosecond transient absorption studies (charge injection rate in the range of 10¹¹ s⁻¹) suggested efficient charge injection from the excited singlet state of the porphyrin to the conduction band of TiO₂. The power conversion efficiency (η ) of YH3 bearing acrylic acid linkers (η =5.9 %) was close to that of the best ruthenium dye N719 (η =7.4 %) under similar conditions. The superior photovoltaic performance of YH3 was attributed to its higher light‐harvesting ability and more favorable electron injection and collection, as supported by electrochemical impedance spectral studies. This work demonstrates the exceptional potential of benzoporphyrins as sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells.     

Low‐cost Nickel Complex Dye‐sensitized Titania Nanoparticle/nanotube Composites for Solar Cells

In this work, high‐performance dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on new low‐cost visible nickel complex dye (VisDye), TiO₂ nanoparticle/nanotube composites electrodes, carbon nanoparticles counter electrodes, and ionic liquids electrolytes have been fabricated. The electronic structure, optical spectroscopy, and electrochemical properties of the VisDye were studied. Experimental results indicate that it is beneficial to improve the electron transport and power conversion efficiency using the nickel complex VisDye and TiO₂ nanoparticle/nanotube composites. Under optimized conditions, the solar energy conversion efficiencies were measured. The short‐circuit current density (J_SC), the open‐circuit voltage (V_OC), the fill factor (FF), and the overall efficiency (η) of the DSSCs are 10.01 mA/cm², 516 mV, 0.68, and 3.52%, respectively. This study demonstrates that the combination of new VisDye with TiO₂ nanoparticle/nanotube composites electrodes and carbon nanoparticles counter electrodes provide a way to fabricate highly efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells in low‐cost production.     

Ultrafast Charge‐Transfer Reactions of Indoline Dyes with Anchoring Alkyl Chains of Varying Length in Mesoporous ZnO Solar Cells

Dye‐sensitized solar cells based on a mesoporous ZnO substrate were sensitized with the indoline derivatives DN91, DN216 and DN285. The chromophore is the same for each of these dyes. They differ from each other in the length of an alkyl chain, which provides a second anchor to the ZnO surface and prolongs cell lifetime. Ultrafast transient absorption measurements reveal a correlation between the length of the alkyl chain and the fastest electron‐injection process. The depopulation of the excited state and the associated emergence of the oxidized molecules are dominant spectral features in the transient absorption of the dyes with shorter alkyl chains. A slower picosecond‐scale decay proceeds at constant rate for all three derivatives and is assigned to electron transfer into the trap states of ZnO. All assignments are in good agreement with a higher quantum efficiency of charge injection leading to higher short‐circuit currents J_sc for dyes with shorter alkyl chains.     

Novel D − π − A dye sensitizers of polymeric metal complexes based on 8‐hydroxyquinoline and phenylethyl or fluorene units: synthesis,characterization and photovoltaic applications for dye‐sensitized solar cells

Four novel donor ? π‐bridge ? acceptor (D ? π ? A) polymeric metal complexes (P1–P4) based on 8‐hydroxyquinoline metal complexes were synthesized and tested for their performance in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The polymeric metal complexes dyes use alkoxy benzene or alkyl fluorene as the electron donor and C=C as π linker; the 8‐hydroxyquinoline derivative complex part was used as the electron acceptor and diaminomaleonitrile was used as ancillary ligand. The two strongly electron‐withdrawing cyano groups in the polymer structure can provide an efficient charge transport in the intramolecular between donor and acceptor parts. The thermal, photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of these copolymers were investigated by TGA, differential scanning calorimetry, cyclic voltammetry and cureent density‐voltage curves, and the results showed that dye containing complex Zn(II) and alkoxy benzene unit benefited the generation of photocurrent and open‐circuit voltages, and a maximum power conversion efficiency of 1.91% (P2) was obtained, with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.71 V, a short‐circuit current density of 4.23 mA cm^?2, and a fill factor of 38.6% under AM1.5G irradiation. The study results also show that the four polymers exhibit good thermal stability, indicating that these polymeric metal complexes are suitable for the fabrication processes of optoelectronic devices. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhancement of the Photovoltaic Performance of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells through a Dichlorobenzene‐Functionalized Hole‐Transporting Material

A dichlorobenzene‐functionalized hole‐transporting material (HTM) is developed for a CH₃NH₃PbI₃‐based perovskite solar cell. Notwithstanding the similarity of the frontier molecular orbital energy levels, optical properties, and hole mobility between the functionalized HTM [a polymer composed of 2′‐butyloctyl‐4,6‐dibromo‐3‐fluorothieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐2‐carboxylate (TT‐BO), 3′,4′‐dichlorobenzyl‐4,6‐dibromo‐3‐fluorothieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐2‐carboxylate (TT‐DCB), and 2,6‐bis(trimethyltin)‐4,8‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT‐EH), denoted PTB‐DCB21] and the nonfunctionalized polymer [a polymer composed of thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene (TT) and benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT), denoted PTB‐BO], a higher power conversion efficiency for PTB‐DCB21 (8.7 %) than that for PTB‐BO (7.4 %) is achieved because of a higher photocurrent and voltage. The high efficiency is even obtained without including additives, such as lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and/or 4‐tert‐butylpyridine, that are commonly used to improve the conductivity of the HTM. Transient photocurrent–voltage studies show that the PTB‐DCB21‐based device exhibits faster electron transport and slower charge recombination; this might be related to better interfacial contact through intermolecular chemical interactions between the perovskite and the 3,4‐dichlorobenzyl group in PTB‐DCB21.     

Enhancements of Trifluoroacetic Acylated Five‐membered Heterocyclic Compounds Using as Additives in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

In this study, five‐membered heterocyclic compounds are trifluoroacetic acylated for the purpose of providing more long pairs to enhance electrolyte in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Four five‐membered heterocyclic compounds will be trifluoroacetic acylated with trifluoroacetic anhydride by Friedel‐Crafts acylation: furan, thiophene, pyrrole and N‐methylpyrrole. The properties will be measured by cyclic voltage (CV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solar simulator, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We find out that furan and thiophene which we add in electrolyte as additives can increase short circuit current and photovoltaic efficiency, and furthermore, all the trifluoroacetic acylated heterocyclic compounds perform better photoelectric abilities than non‐trifluoroacetic acylated one. The photovoltaic efficiency will be increased from 4.439% to 5.197% when 1wt% trifluoroacetic acylated thiophene is added in electrolyte as additives.     

Molecular Engineering of Star-Shaped Indoline Hole Transport Materials: The Influence of Planarity on the Hole Extraction and Transport Processes

As the key properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the hole extraction and transport capabilities of the hole transport material (HTM) affect the photovoltaic performance of PSCs to a considerable extent, while both capabilities can be adjusted by molecular planarity. Therefore, in this work, the molecular planarity of the HTM is systematically optimized to regulate the hole extraction and transport capabilities. Along with the improvement in planarity, the HTM′s HOMO level is increased, leading to the enhancement of hole extraction capability. Meanwhile, the hole transport capability can also be improved due to the intensification of molecular stacking during the film formation. As a result, the planar HTM achieves a relatively high efficiency of 18.48 %, which is higher than that of spiro-OMeTAD. Accordingly, the molecular planarity presents an important impact on the photovoltaic performance of PSCs, providing us with a promising strategy for further optimization of efficient HTMs.     

Improved Efficiency and Stability of Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cells on ITO/PEN Substrates Using an Ionic Liquid Electrolyte

Flexible dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) built on plastic substrates have attracted great interest as they are lightweight and can be roll‐to‐roll printed to accelerate production and reduce cost. However, plastic substrates such as PEN and PET are permeable to water, oxygen and volatile electrolyte solvents, which is detrimental to the cell stability. Therefore, to address this problem, in this work, an ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte is used to replace the volatile solvent electrolyte. The initial IL‐based devices only achieved around 50% of the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the cells using the solvent electrolyte. Current‐voltage and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis of the cells in the dark indicated that this lower efficiency mainly originated from (i) a lack of blocking layer to reduce recombination, and (ii) a lower charge collection efficiency. To combat these problems, cells were developed using a 12 nm thick blocking layer, produced by atomic layer deposition, and 1 μm thick P25 TiO₂ film sensitized with the hydrophobic MK‐2 dye. These flexible DSSCs utilizing an IL electrolyte exhibit significantly improved efficiencies and a <10% drop in performance after 1000 h aging at 60°C under continuous light illumination.