Rapid Synthesis of Thiophene‐Based,Organic Dyes for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) by a One‐Pot,Four‐Component Coupling Approach

This one‐pot, four‐component coupling approach (Suzuki–Miyaura coupling/C?H direct arylation/Knoevenagel condensation) was developed for the rapid synthesis of thiophene‐based organic dyes for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Seven thiophene‐based, organic dyes of various donor structures with/without the use of a 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) moiety were successfully synthesized in good yields based on a readily available thiophene boronic acid pinacol ester scaffold (one‐pot, 3‐step, 35–61 %). Evaluation of the photovoltaic properties of the solar cells that were prepared using the synthesized dyes revealed that the introduction of an EDOT structure beside a cyanoacrylic acid moiety improved the short‐circuit current (J_sc) while decreasing the fill factor (FF). The donor structure significantly influenced the open‐circuit voltage (V_oc), the FF, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE). The use of a n‐hexyloxyphenyl amine donor, and our originally developed, rigid, and nonplanar donor, both promoted good cell performance (η=5.2–5.6 %).