2,7-Diaminofluorene-based organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: effect of auxiliary donor on optical and electrochemical properties

New organic dyes containing a diarylaminofluorene unit as an electron donor and cyanoacrylic acid as acceptor and anchoring group in a donor-π-donor-π-acceptor architecture have been synthesized and characterized as sensitizers for nanocrystalline TiO(2)-based dye-sensitized solar cells. They have shown three major electronic absorptions originating from the π-π* and charge-transfer transitions covering the broad visible range (250-550 nm) in solution. The charge-transfer transition of the dyes exhibited negative solvatochromism, suggesting a polarized ground state. They have also displayed acidochromism in solution owing to the presence of a protonation-deprotonation equilibrium. On comparison with the triphenylamine and carbazole-based parent dyes (E)-2-cyano-3-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)acrylic acid and (E)-2-cyano-3-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)acrylic acid they exhibited longer wavelength absorptions and facile oxidation, indicating the stronger electron-donating ability of the auxiliary chromophores. In addition, they exhibited nearly two times larger light-to-electron conversion efficiency under simulated AM 1.5 G irradiation (100 mW cm(-2)) with an aperture mask when compared to the parent dyes. Among the new dyes, the one containing the naphthylphenylamine segment showed better device characteristics attributable to the higher HOMO energy level which probably facilitates the regeneration of the dye and effective suppression of the back reaction of the injected electrons with the I(3)(-) in the electrolyte. The optical properties of the dyes were modeled using TDDFT simulations employing different theoretical models (B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, and MPW1K), and the best correlations with the observed parameters have been found for CAM-B3LYP and MPW1K calculations. The electron lifetimes extracted from the electrochemical impedance measurements of the dye-sensitized solar cells were used to interpret the solar cell efficiency alternations.     

Synthesis of hexagonal ZnO clubs with opposite faces of unequal dimensions for the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells

Novel sub-micro sized hexagonal clubs of ZnO (HC-ZnO), which are coated as a scattering layer (SL) for the photoanode of a DSSC, are synthesized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the ZnO clubs show clear peaks corresponding to wurtzite crystal phase of ZnO. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images show that each club has two opposite hexagonal faces (parts) of unequal dimensions. High resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM) image of a single ZnO club reveals that the ZnO is single crystalline and has wurtzite crystal structure; the image indicates a lattice spacing (d) of 0.26 nm; this is ascribed to the (002) planar spacing of the hexagonal ZnO. A solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 3.36% is achieved for the cell with the double layer (DL) film, which is 16% higher than that of the cell with only transparent layer (TL) of commercial ZnO (2.89%) and far higher than that of the cell with SL (0.05%). The η of the cell with the DL (3.36%) could further be improved to 4.28% through the modification of the DL surface with TiO(x). Incident photo-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) curves, UV-vis absorption spectra, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra, and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) are also used to substantiate the results.     

Novel pyrenoimidazole-based organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel class of organic dyes containing pyrenoimidazole donors, cyanoacrylic acid acceptors, and oligothiophene π-linkers has been synthesized and characterized. The electro-optical properties of these dyes can be tuned by changing the conjugation length of the π-linkers. A dye containing terthiophene in the conjugation pathway exhibited a solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 5.65%.     

Pyrene-based organic dyes with thiophene containing π-linkers for dye-sensitized solar cells: optical, electrochemical and theoretical investigations

A new series of metal-free organic dyes containing pyrene and α-cyanoacrylic acid end groups and thiophene, bithiophene, thienylbenzene or thienylfluorene π-linkers were synthesized and characterized by absorption, emission and electrochemical measurements. Time-dependent density functional theoretical calculations were also performed to unravel the nature of the absorption induced electronic excitations. Extension of conjugation in the π-linker by the incorporation of phenyl or fluorene was found to enhance the molar extinction coefficient while the use of thiophene red-shifted the absorption. The longer wavelength absorption peaks found for the dyes were attributed to π-π* transition with a contribution from the charge transfer transition which becomes prominent for the bithiophene bridged derivative. The bithiophene containing dye showed moderate overall light-to-electron conversion efficiency attributable to the favorable absorption and redox properties originating due to the presence of a bithiophene segment. The trends observed for the various dyes in the device performance were rationalized by electron-impedance spectroscopy measurements.     

硝酸钐丙氨酸配合物生成焓的量热法测定

配位反应;量热分析;硝酸钐丙氨酸配合物生成焓的量热法测定     

Unsymmetrical squaraines incorporating the thiophene unit for panchromatic dye-sensitized solar cells

Two unsymmetrical squaraines, where the electron-rich 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene or bithiophene conjugated fragment was used to link unconventionally the squaraine core and the hexyloxyphenyl amino group, were applied for DSCs. The corresponding photovoltaic devices exhibit an attractively panchromatic response and also convert a portion of the near-infrared photons into electricity.     

High-Performance Dipolar Organic Dyes with an Electron-Deficient Diphenylquinoxaline Moiety in the π-Conjugation Framework for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We report here the synthesis and electrochemical and photophysical properties of a series of easily prepared dipolar organic dyes and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For the six organic dyes, the molecular structures comprised a triphenylamine group as an electron donor, a cyanoacrylic acid as an electron acceptor, and an electron-deficient diphenylquinoxaline moiety integrated in the π-conjugated spacer between the electron donor and acceptor moieties. The incorporation of the electron-deficient diphenylquinoxaline moiety effectively reduces the energy gap of the dyes and broadly extends the spectral coverage. DSSCs based on dye 6 produced the best overall cell performance of 7.35?%, which translates to approximately 79?% of the intrinsic efficiency of the DSSCs based on the standard N719 dye under identical experimental conditions. The high performance of DSSCs based on dye 6 among the six dyes explored is attributed to the combined effects of high dye loading on a TiO(2) surface, rapid dye regeneration, and effective retardation of charge recombination.     

Structural engineering of dipolar organic dyes with an electron-deficient diphenylquinoxaline moiety for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

A series of new organic dyes containing an electron-deficient diphenylquinoxaline moiety was synthesized and employed as the photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The multiple phenyl rings in the peripheral positions of the dye structure provide a hydrophobic barrier to slow down the charge recombination. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these dyes were investigated in detail. The cell performance and the associated photophysical and electrochemical properties can be easily tuned by the modification of the aromatic fragments within the π spacer. Dye CR204-based DSSC reached the best energy conversion efficiency of 6.49% with an open-circuit voltage of 666 mV, a short-circuit photocurrent density of 14.9 mA cm⁻², and a fill factor of 0.66. The IPCE of CR204-based DSSC covers the light-harvesting to NIR region.     

量热法测定氯化钐与甘氨酸配合物的标准生成焓

稀土在生命科学领域的研究日益受到人们关注,稀土化合物所具有的抑菌、抑癌、消炎等作用及其作用机理的探讨已有报道［１～３］。最近几年稀土在生物领域中的研究又有了新的突破和进展,从稀土与氨基酸、蛋白质、膜脂及膜蛋白的作用到其对ＤＮＡ。ＲＮＡ的影响［１,４］,从稀土的分子水平、细胞及亚细胞水平到动物整体实验的系统研究［５,６］等,分别从不同的层次、不同的水平研究了稀土的生物效应。但至目前为止,稀土的生物效应机理及其对人体的影响尚未得到令人满意的解释。由于氨基酸是构成人体蛋白质的基本单位,故研究稀土与氨基…     

A thermochemical study of the coordination reactions of La(III) with alanine and glycine

The solid-state coordination reactions of lanthanum chloride with alanine and glycine, and lanthanum nitrate with alanine have been studied by classical solution calorimetry. The molar dissolution enthalpies of the reactants and the products in 2 mol L^-1 HCl solvent of these three solid-solid coordination reactions have been measured using an isoperibol calorimeter. From the results and other auxiliary quantities, the standard molar formation enthalpies have been determined to be Δ_f H _m ^θ[La(Ala)₃Cl₃·3H₂O(s), 298.2 K]= -3716.3 kJ mol^-1, Δ_f H _m ^θ [La(Gly)₃Cl₃·5H₂O(s), 298.2 K]= -4223.0 kJ mol^-1 and Δ_f H _m ^θ [La(Ala)₄(NO₃)₃·H₂O(s), 298.2 K]= -3867.57 kJ mol^-1, respectively. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.