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Three novel metal-free organic dyes (TPTZ1, TPTZ2, and TPTZ3) with an A–D–π–D–A configuration were synthesized and applied for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The relationship between the photovoltaic properties and the different connection bridges of these organic dyes was studied systematically, showing that a strategical variation on the linkage ways of dithiophene can obviously affect the twisted degree of backbone and, thus, have a great effect on inhibiting the intermolecular aggregation. Compared with a bulky rigid group substituted on TPTZ3, introducing flexible side chains at suitable sites on the TPTZ1 and TPTZ2 seems to be a more effective strategy to achieve high photoelectric performance for double anchoring dye. Indeed, the DSSCs based on TPTZ2 exhibit a high efficiency of 7.50%, reaching 99% of an N719-based standard cell at the same condition. This study provides a new approach for highly efficient anti-aggregation organic sensitizers.

A novel and simple strategy by introducing a titanate coupling agent into the electrode to improve the supercapacitor performance has been developed in this study. The surface modification of the activated carbon material are conducted under neutral conditions. The improved electrodes are characterized by mechanical tests and electrochemical measurements. The obtained results reveal that the treated activated carbon electrode retains good mechanical properties with decreased bonder content. The electrode prepared using activated carbon treated with the Titanate coupling agent and a bonder mass content of 8.0 % shows the best electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance reaches 376.2 F•g-1, whereas the internal resistance is 0.91 Ω.

In this study, we investigated a simple strategy by introducing a adhesion promoter into the electrode to improve decrease bonder content and the supercapacitor performance. The improved electrodes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical measurements. According to the results, the treated activated carbon electrode retains good adhesion strength with smaller bonder content. The electrode prepared using activated carbon treated with the adhesion promoter and a bonder mass content of 7.0 % shows the best electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance reaches 347.5 F•g-1, whereas the internal resistance is 0.94 Ω.