Novel polymeric metal complexes as dye sensitizers for Dye-sensitized solar cells based on poly thiophene containing complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline with Zn(II),Cu(II) and Eu(III) in the side chain

Novel polymeric metal complexes as dye sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on poly thiophene containing complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline with Zn(II),Cu(II), and Eu(III) in the side chain have been synthesized according to the Stille coupling method and characterized by FTIR, GPC, and Elemental analysis. The UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and the applications in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are also determined and studied. The DSSCs fabricated by PZn(Q)₂-co-3MT, PCu(Q)₂-co-3MT, and PEu(Q)₃-co-3MT exhibit good device performance with a power conversion efficiency of up to 0.56%, 0.78%, and 1.16%, respectively, under simulated AM 1.5 G solar irradiation (100 mW/cm²). They possess excellent stabilities and their thermal decomposition temperatures are 340 °C, 400 °C, and 540 °C, respectively, indicating polymeric metal complexes are suitable for the fabrication processes of optoelectronic devices.