Dye-sensitized solar cell with a solid state organic–inorganic composite electrolyte containing catalytic functional polypyrrole nanoparticles

An organic–inorganic composite electrolyte with tetra-n-butyl titanate and ethylene glycol is prepared with sol–gel method and used in fabricating solid state dye-sensitized solar cell (S-DSSC). The addition of acetyl acetone into the composite electrolyte can extend the solidification time to meet the time requirement for assembling S-DSSC. The addition of 4-tert-butylpyridine can enhance the photovoltaic performance of S-DSSC due to its efficient suppressing of dark current in S-DSSC. Furthermore, with the addition of catalytic functional polypyrrole nanoparticles for transformation of iodide/triiodide redox couples in the composite electrolyte, the energy conversion efficiency of S-DSSC increases from 3.147 to 3.597%, with 14% enhancement.     

Correlation of π-conjugated oligomer structure with film morphology and organic solar cell performance

The novel methyl-substituted dicyanovinyl-capped quinquethiophenes 1-3 led to highly efficient organic solar cells with power conversion efficiencies of 4.8-6.9%. X-ray analysis of single crystals and evaporated neat and blend films gave insights into the packing and morphological behavior of the novel compounds that rationalized their improved photovoltaic performance.     

Synthesis and characterization of dithienobenzothiadiazole-based donor–acceptor conjugated polymers for organic solar cell applications

New donor–acceptor conjugated polymers (P1 and P2) containing a fused-ring dithienobenzothiadiazole (DT-BTD building block) were synthesized by using the Stille copolymerization method. The synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, GPC, and elemental analysis. The optical band gaps of the polymers were found to be 1.86 and 1.9 eV, respectively, as calculated from their film onset absorption edge. Upon annealing both produced a distinct shoulder peak in their film absorption spectra. The electrochemical studies of P1 and P2 revealed that the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the polymer were −5.3, −5.1 eV, and −3.4, −3.2 eV, respectively. The polymers are thermally stable up to 250–350 °C.     

Theoretical investigation of anthanthrene-based dyes in dye‐sensitized solar cell applications: Effect of nature of alkyl-substitutions and number of anchoring groups

In dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the dye material plays a crucial role in determining the amount of electrical current obtained, which is the primary outcome of the cell. Therefore, it is crucial to explain the performance of a dye at a molecular level. This work investigates using density functional theory and time-dependent density (DFT and TD-DFT, respectively) four experimentally tested anthanthrene-based dyes abbreviated as D1 to D4. The four dyes differ in their alkyl-substitutions (nonane or 3-ethylheptane) and the number of anchoring groups (one/two cyanoacrylic acid/s). To study the effect of these two structural features, the work involves the calculations of the geometrical structures, electronic and optical properties of isolated forms. In addition, the adsorption behaviour of these dyes on TiO₂ clusters was explained. Properties such as the adsorption energies, and electro-optical properties were calculated and discussed.     

Test of the water adsorption model of organic electrocatalysis in the carbon monoxide–silver system in alkaline medium

A test has been carried out of the model of T. Iwasita, X.H. Xia, H.-D. Liess, W. Vielstich [J. Phys. Chem. B. 101 (1997) 7542], according to which the maximum at about the same potential in both the positive and negative sweeps in cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of small organic molecules on Pt is due to the concurrence of two processes with opposite potential dependences, adsorption of the organic compound and electrooxidation of its intermediates, which decrease and increase, respectively, with increasing potential. In turn, the decrease with increasing potential of the adsorption of the undissociated organic is due to its increasing displacement by molecular water, this competition occurring because the two molecular compounds have similar, low values of the adsorption energy. According to the model of T. Iwasita, X.H. Xia, H.-D. Liess, W. Vielstich [J. Phys. Chem. B. 101 (1997) 7542], with CO on Pt no anodic currents are observed in the negative sweep because of the high adsorption energy of CO on Pt, which precludes its displacement by water. Therefore, the model has been tested with the CO–Ag system, for which anodic currents should be observed in the negative sweep, since the adsorption energy of CO on Ag is very low. Effectively, this has been found to be the case, which indicates that the model is indeed applicable to the CO–Ag system over the tested pH range, 10–14. At pH⩽11 adsorbed CO was displaced from the surface of Ag by N₂ bubbling, while it was not at pH⩾12. However, even at pH⩾12 the adsorption energy of CO on Ag should be rather weak, since anodic currents appeared in the negative sweep in CO-saturated solution over the whole pH range tested, 10–14.     

Investigation of inorganic–organic hybrid materials containing polyoxometalate cluster anions and organic dye cations

Two new ionic-pair salts containing an organic dye cation, i.e. New Fuchsin or Pararosaniline cation, with Keggin-type POMs, [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? and [BW₁₂O₄₀]^6?, have been isolated under hydrothermal conditions. [(C₂₂H₂₄N₃)₄][SiW₁₂O₄₀] (1) and [(C₁₉H₁₈N₃)₆][BW₁₂O₄₀] (2) have been characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Both of these complexes have strong absorption in the visible-light range due to the involvement of the organic dye and both show weak fluorescence emission.     

Enhancement of fluorescence and lasing properties of covalent bridged fluorescent dye in organic–inorganic hybrid materials

Fluorescent dye (DCM-OH) is covalently bridged to organic–inorganic hybrid material to prevent molecular stacking and to get high fluorescence efficiency and laser property. Novel DCM-OH is synthesized to have hydroxyl functional groups and is bridged to trialkoxysilane as a sol–gel precursor. It participates in sol–gel process to synthesize dye-bridged organic–inorganic hybrid material (dye-bridged hybrimer) and solid-state dye laser sample is ready through polymerization. Fluorescence property of dye-bridged hybrimer is compared with DCM-doped hybrimer that is simple mixture of DCM-OH and hybrimer matrix. The covalently bridged structure of hybrimer with DCM-OH prevented the stacking of fluorescent molecules and enhanced concentration stability. The dye-bridged hybrimer shows much higher fluorescence intensity and low color-shift until it reached high concentration in comparison with DCM-doped system. And the proper lasing property is observed in dye-bridged hybrimer samples.     

Studies on the oxygen sensitivity and microstructure of sol–gel based organic–inorganic hybrid coatings doped with platinum porphyrin dye

Hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposite coatings were prepared by copolymerizing tetraethylorthosilicate with ethyltriethoxysilane with an acid catalysis process. Oxygen sensor coatings were fabricated by doping the hybrid sol with platinum meso-tetra(pentfluorophenyl) porphyrin. Photophysical properties and oxygen sensitivity of the sensor coatings were studied. The microstructure of the coatings was examined using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of sol–gel process conditions like precursor silane molar ratio, acid concentration and stirring time of the sol on the oxygen sensitivity and surface microstructure of the sensor coating was studied. Oxygen sensitivity and surface morphology of the coatings were dependent on the sol–gel process parameters.     

Synthesis and characterization of push–pull organic semiconductors with various acceptors for solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells

New efficient push–pull organic semiconductors comprising of the bis(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)aniline (bisDMFA) donor and the various acceptors such as NO₂, DCBP, and TCF, which were linked with bithiophene or vinyl bithiophene π-conjugation bridges, were synthesized, and their photovoltaic characteristics were investigated in solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells (SMOSCs). The intramolecular charge transfers of these materials were effectively appeared in between bisDMFA donor and acceptors, depending on the electron-withdrawing strength of acceptors. The organic semiconductors having NO₂ and DCBP acceptors exhibited the most efficient photovoltaic performance, showing power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.98% (±0.17) and 2.01% (±0.21), respectively. When the TiO_x thin layer was treated on photoactive layer, the organic semiconductor having NO₂ showed the best PCE of 2.70% with short circuit current of 8.19 mA/cm², fill factor of 0.40, and open circuit voltage of 0.83 V in SMOSC devices.     

Enthalpy of mixing in the propylene oxide–dimethylformamide and propylene oxide–ethylene glycol systems

Heat of mixing of propylene oxide with N,N-dimethylformamide and ethylene glycol has been determined by means of microcalorimetry. Theoretically suggested choice of the aprotic solvent as a selective separating agent for the propylene oxide–methanol binary mixture has been experimentally justified.     

Effect of medium acidity on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the reaction of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate with isoniazid in an aqueous solution

Thermodynamic characteristics of the formation of the Schiff base between isoniazid and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in an aqueous solution at different pH values of a medium are determined by means of spectrophotometry and calorimetric titration. The process kinetics is studied spectrophotometrically, and the reaction rate constants for the formation of the imine at different acidities of a medium are determined. Biochemical aspects of the binding of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate into stable compounds are discussed.     

Nitric oxide interaction with cytochrome c' and its relevance to guanylate cyclase. Why does the iron histidine bond break?

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), the mammalian receptor for nitric oxide (NO), is a heme protein with a histidine as the proximal ligand. Formation of a five-coordinate heme-NO complex with the associated Fe-His bond cleavage is believed to trigger a conformational change that activates the enzyme and transduces the NO signal. Cytochrome c' (cyt c') is a protobacteria heme protein that has several similarities with sGC, including the ability to form a five-coordinate NO adduct and the fact that it does not bind oxygen. Recent crystallographic characterization of cyt c' from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (AXCP) has yielded the discovery that exogenous ligands are able to bind to the Fe center from either side of the porphyrin plane. In this paper, we explore the molecular basis of the NO interaction with AXCP using hybrid quantum-classical simulation techniques. Our results suggest that Fe-His bond breaking depends not only on the iron-histidine bond strength but also on the existence of a local minimum conformation of the protein with the histidine away from the iron. We also show that AXCP is a useful paradigm for NO interaction with heme proteins, particularly regarding the activation/deactivation mechanism of sGC. The results presented here fully support a recently proposed model of sGC activation in which NO is not only the iron ligand but also catalyzes the activation step.     

Metal organic framework–derived core-shell CuO@NiO nanosphares as hole transport material in perovskite solar cell

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Cu-Ni bimetallic organic frameworks were synthesized by a facile and stepwise solvothermal method, utilizing metal organic framework as precursor....     

Constructing organic D-A-π-A-featured sensitizers with a quinoxaline unit for high-efficiency solar cells: the effect of an auxiliary acceptor on the absorption and the energy level alignment

Four organic D-A-π-A-featured sensitizers (TQ1, TQ2, IQ1, and IQ2) have been studied for high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We employed an indoline or a triphenylamine unit as the donor, cyanoacetic acid as the acceptor/anchor, and a thiophene moiety as the conjugation bridge. Additionally, an electron-withdrawing quinoxaline unit was incorporated between the donor and the π-conjugation unit. These sensitizers show an additional absorption band covering the broad visible range in solution. The contribution from the incorporated quinoxaline was investigated theoretically by using DFT and time-dependent DFT. The incorporated low-band-gap quinoxaline unit as an auxiliary acceptor has several merits, such as decreasing the band gap, optimizing the energy levels, and realizing a facile structural modification on several positions in the quinoxaline unit. As demonstrated, the observed additional absorption band is favorable to the photon-to-electron conversion because it corresponds to the efficient electron transitions to the LUMO orbital. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) Bode plots reveal that the replacement of a methoxy group with an octyloxy group can increase the injection electron lifetime by a factor of 2.4. IQ2 and TQ2 can perform well without any co-adsorbent, successfully suppress the charge recombination from TiO(2) conduction band to I(3)(-) in the electrolyte, and enhance the electron lifetime, resulting in a decreased dark current and enhanced open circuit voltage (V(oc)) values. By using a liquid electrolyte, DSSCs based on dye IQ2 exhibited a broad incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) action spectrum and high efficiency (η=8.50?%) with a short circuit current density (J(sc)) of 15.65?mA?cm(-2), a V(oc) value of 776?mV, a fill factor (FF) of 0.70 under AM 1.5 illumination (100?mW?cm(-2)). Moreover, the overall efficiency remained at 97% of the initial value after 1000?h of visible-light soaking.     

Use of organomagnesium compounds for the synthesis of organic derivatives of group II–V elements in a nonethereal medium

Summary For the primary alkyl halides (R=from C₂H₅ to n-C₉H₁₉; halogen=C1, Br, and I) and the simplest aryl halides (R=C₆H₅ and p-CH₃C₆H₄) it was shown that the organomagnesium synthesis in absence of catalysts for the Grignard reaction can be applied with success to the preparation of heteroorganic compounds of elements of Groups II–IV (mercury, boron, aluminum, silicon, germanium, tin, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony).     

Comparison of Eosin yellowish dye–sensitized and CdS-sensitized TiO2 nanomaterial–based solid-state solar cells

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In the present work, Eosin yellowish (EY) dye–sensitized and CdS-sensitized TiO2 photoanodes prepared by doctor blade technique, for dye (DSSC)- and...     

Construction of visible-light-responsive metal–organic framework with pillared structure for dye degradation and Cr(VI) reduction

A water-stable mixed-linker metal–organic framework (MOF) was rationally synthesized using a controllable pillared-layer method. The prepared Co(II)–MOF shows wide-range absorption in the visible light region due to the incorporation of highly conjugated anthracene-based bipyridine ligand. Experiments suggest that the MOF is highly efficient for the photoreduction of toxic Cr(VI) ions in water under visible light. Important issues affecting photocatalytic performance, such as the influence of pH and the control of electron–hole separation by scavenger, were carefully examined. Beyond Cr(VI) ions, we also explored the photocatalytic degradation performance of the MOF using a persistent azo dye as a model substrate, where H₂O₂-involved advanced oxidation process was applied. Control experiments suggest that the introduction of environmentally benign H₂O₂ significantly enhances the degradation performance due to the generation of reactive hydroxyl radicals. The study not only demonstrates the great feasibility of the preparation of a new MOF photocatalyst through a controllable pillared-layer method, but also reveals that rational functionalization of ligand in the MOF is convenient for achieving desirable applications.     

Synthesis and photoelectric properties of an organic dye containing benzo[1,2-b：4,5-b’]dithiophene for dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel benzodithiophene-containing organic dye BDT was synthesized and characterized as a sensitizer for a nanocrystalline TiO₂-based dye-sensitized solar cell.The BDT dye shows two major electronic absorptions.The absorption of the BDT dye covers a broad visible range from 300 nm to 550 nm.The benzodithiophene unit was used as aπbridge with several advantages:（1） It facilitates the electron transfer from the donor to the acceptor;（2） A facile structural modification on the 4,8-positions in the benzodithiophene unit can be achieved;（3） Fusing benzene with two flanking thiophene units improves the thermal stability.Under simulated AM1.5G solar light（100 mW/cm²） illumination,the DSC based on BDT gives a power conversion efficiency of 1.78%.