Synthesis and Characterization of Two New Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

In the present study, two new organic dyes based on indigo were prepared and used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. To this end, indoxyl was utilized as the electron-donor and acrylic acid and cyanoacrylic acid were used as the electron-acceptor anchoring groups. These dyes were purified and characterized by analytical techniques. Spectrophotometric evaluations of the prepared dyes in solution and on a nano-anatase-TiO₂ substrate were investigated. Additionally, oxidation potential measurements were also carried out. Finally, dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated to determine the photovoltaic behavior and conversion efficiency of each dye.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Monoazo N‐Ester‐1,8‐Naphthalimide Disperse Dyestuffs

Five novel monoazo disperse dyestuffs based on N‐ester‐1,8‐naphthalimide were synthesized. Acenaphthene was nitrated, then oxidized to 4‐nitro‐1,8‐naphthalic anhydride. 4‐Nitro‐1,8‐naphthalic anhydride was reacted with methyl and ethyl glycinate in alcoholic media, followed with reduction. 4‐Amino‐N‐methyl and ethyl glycinate‐1,8‐naphthalimide were obtained. These products were diazotized and coupled with appropriate aromatic amines to give bluish‐red or violet dyestuffs. All intermediates and dyestuffs were purified and characterized by ¹H‐NMR, FTIR, DSC, UV‐VIS and Elemental Analysis. Dispersion of dyestuffs was prepared in water and applied to polyester fabrics. The dyed fabrics showed that four of the synthesized dyestuffs were suitable for coloring polyester fibers, producing deep bluish red with very good build up properties.     

Extraction and application of natural pigments for fabrication of green dye-sensitized solar cells

Four dye-sensitized solar cell devices are designed and fabricated based on natural dyes extracted from Celosia Cristata, Saffron, Cynoglossum, and eggplant peel, as photosensitizers. The UV–vis technique has been served to determine maximum absorption of natural extract and pre-dyed photoanode. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) was employed to cover the presence of functional groups. The cyclic voltammetry method has been employed to assess the possibility of charge transfer from dried natural dyes to the photoelectrode. The performance of natural-based dye-sensitized solar cells is determined subsequently. The highest power conversion efficiency was ca. 1.38%, which belonged to Celosia Cristata extract. The devices were examined for higher efficiencies, individually, co-sensitized arrangement and/or in tandem with each other.     

Facile synthesis of 4-nitro-N-substituted-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives using ultrasound in aqueous media

This study describes the ultrasound-assisted synthesis of 4-nitro-N-substituted-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives from 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride and related amines by irradiating at 35 KHz in a sonic bath in aqueous media at room temperature. The results obtained by this method are comparable to those obtained by a common reflux method. The imidation reaction under ultrasound irradiation preceded 8 and 20 times faster than the common method and produced higher yields.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Some Monoazo Disperse Dyestuffs Based on Naphthalimide Derivatives for Dyeing of Polyester Fabrics

A series of monoazo disperse dyestuffs derived from naphthalimide were prepared. 4‐Amino‐N‐methyl (alternatively N‐ethyl, N‐propyl, N‐butyl) derivatives of naphthalimide were utilised as the diazo components and β‐naphthol, N,N‐diethyl‐m‐toluidine, and p‐aminoacetophenone constituted the coupling components. To this end, acenaphthene was nitrated and then various unit processes such as oxidation, amination, reduction, diazotization, and coupling were carried out. The synthesized monoazo disperse dyestuffs were applied to a locally manufactured polyester fabric and their optical properties were investigated. Characterisation of the various intermediates as well as the dyestuffs were carried out by DSC, FTIR, H‐NMR and UV‐vis analytical techniques.     

Multiwavelength spectrophotometric determination of acidity constants of some azo dyes

A multiwavelength spectrophotometric titration method was applied to study the acidity constants of some azo dyes in water. The UV-vis absorption spectra of azo dye solutions were recorded in the course of their pH-metric titration with a standard base solution. The protolytic equilibrium constants, spectral profiles, concentration diagrams and also the number of components have been calculated. The quantitative effects of the substituents on the acidity of the studied azo dyes were investigated by the linear free energy relationship (LFER) using Hammet sigma constant (sigma) and field and resonance effects of Kamlet and Taft (f and Re, respectively).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Monoazo Naphthalimide Disperse Dyes Containing Carboxylic Acid Group with High Heat Fastness Properties

A group of novel monoazo disperse dyes containing carboxylic acid‐1,8‐naphthalimide group has been synthesized. All intermediates and dyes were purified by recrystalization and the column chromatography method. The purified products were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, DSC, UV‐VIS and Elemental Analysis. Spectrophotometric investigations of the synthesized dyes in different solvents were carried out in order to obtain their absorption maxima, molar extinction coefficients and solvatochromic effects. The absorption maxima of the synthesized dyes in acetone varied (513‐549 nm) and the molar extinction coefficient was (17405‐38939 l/mol cm). By changing the media from chloroform to DMF, the solvatochromism effect for all dyes increased. Dispersion of the synthesized dyes was prepared in water containing dispersing agent and applied to polyester fabrics. The dyed fabrics showed that all of the synthesized dyes were suitable for coloring polyester fibers, producing deep red to bluish red with very good fastness properties.     

Stability of Dye Dispersions in the Presence of Various Surface Active Agents and Additives

Disperse dyes are hardly soluble in water. They are usually milled in the presence of large amounts of dispersing agents in the dye industry. The type and amount of these materials can affect the disperse ability of dyes in aqueous media. In this article, stability of prepared dye dispersions in the presence of various surface active agents and additives were investigated. In this respect, various dispersing agents such as Irgasol DAM, Asutol 644, Dispertane MF, and Irgasol P800 were used to prepare dye dispersions in milling stage. Furthermore, the formulations of dye dispersions were obtained by adding β-cyclodextrin, urea, and wetting agent. The dye dispersion quality was determined by its filtering property, turbidity, and centrifuging method. The obtained results proved the stability of dispersion containing of Irgasol DAM, wetting agent, and β-cyclodextrin as dispersing auxiliaries in dyeing process of disperse dye on polyester fabrics in high temperature method was the highest as compared to other dispersions. From the experimental results, it was found out that stability of prepared dispersions was improved by the presence of β-cyclodextrin. Also, utilization of β-cyclodextrin in formulations of dye dispersions caused to increasing of stability of dispersion in the dyeing of polyester fabrics.     

Synthesis and Application of Some Alkali‐Clearable Azo Disperse Dyes Based on Naphthalimide Derivatives

A series of naphthalimide‐based alkali‐clearable azo disperse dyes containing a fluorosulfonyl group was synthesized. 4‐Fluorosulfonylaniline, 4‐fluorosulfonyl‐2‐nitroaniline and 6‐chloro‐4‐fluorosulfonyl‐2‐nitroaniline as the diazo components were prepared from N‐acetylsulfanilyl chloride and were subsequently coupled with 4‐hydroxy‐N‐3‐methoxypropyl‐1, 8‐naphthalimide. The synthesized dyes and their intermediates were characterized by the use of DSC, FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Mass spectroscopy and UV‐visible spectroscopic techniques. Spectrophotometric investigations of prepared dyes in different solvents were carried out in order to obtain their absorption maxima, molar extinction coefficients and solvatochromic effects. The obtained dyes were applied to polyester fabric by the HT method and exhibited good leveling, wash and sublimation fastnesses and moderate light fastness. The synthesized dyes showed that incorporated fluorosulfonyl group to these dyes can be converted to the dyes containing a water soluble sulfonate group in the relatively mild alkaline conditions.     

Decolorization and mineralization of textile dyes at solution bulk by heterogeneous nanophotocatalysis using immobilized nanoparticles of titanium dioxide

Nanophotocatalysis using nanostructured semiconductors constitute one of the emerging technologies for destructive oxidation of organics such as dyes. This paper deals with the decolorization and mineralization of reactive dyes by heterogeneous nanophotocatalysis using an immobilized TiO₂ nanoparticle photocatalytic reactor. A simple and effective method was used to immobilization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Reactive Orange 107 (RO 107, sulphatoethylsulphonyl reactive dye) and Reactive Red 152 (RR 152, monochlorotriazine reactive dye) were used as model compounds. UV–vis and ion chromatography (IC) analyses were employed to obtain the details of the photocatalytic degradation of the selected dyes. The effects of operational parameters such as H₂O₂, dye concentration, anions (NO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, HCO₃⁻ and CO₃²⁻) and pH were investigated. Formate, acetate and oxalate anions were detected as dominant aliphatic intermediates where, they were further oxidized slowly to CO₂. Nitrate, sulfate and chloride anions were detected as the photocatalytic mineralization of RO 107 and RR 152. Kinetics analysis indicates that the photocatalytic decolorization rates can usually be approximated zero-order model for RO 107 and first-order model for RR 152 dyes. Results show that the photocatalytic process occurred at solution bulk and the employment of optimal operational parameters may lead to complete decolorization and mineralization of dye solutions.