Cosensitization of Structurally Simple Porphyrin and Anthracene-Based Dye for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Since their introduction, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have achieved huge success at a laboratory level. Recently, research is concentrated to visualize large DSC modules at the commercial platform. In that aspect, we have tested structurally simple porphyrin-based dye SK6 and anthracene-based dye CW10 for DSCs application under simulated 1 sun (AM 1.5G) and indoor light sources. These two dyes can be easily synthesized and yet are efficient with cell performances of ca. 5.42% and ca. 5.75% (without coadsorbent/additive) for SK6 and CW10, respectively, under AM 1.5G illumination. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of SK6 reported in this work is the highest ever reported; this is achieved by optimizing the adsorption of SK6 on TiO photoanode using the most suitable solvent and immersion period. Cosensitization of SK6 with CW10 on TiO surface has boosted cell performance further and achieved PCE of ca. 6.31% under AM 1.5G illumination. Charge-transfer properties of individual and cosensitized devices at TiO/dye/electrolyte interface were examined via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. To understand the cell performances under ambient light conditions, we soaked individual and cosensitized devices under T5 and light-emitting diode light sources in the range of 300-6000 lx. The PCE of ca. 22.91% under T5 light (6000 lx) with J = 0.883 mA cm, V = 0.646 V, and FF = 0.749 was noted for the cosensitized device, which equals a power output of 426 μW cm. These results reveal that DSCs made of structurally simple dyes performed efficiently under both 1 sun (AM 1.5G) and indoor light conditions, which is undoubtedly a significant achievement when it comes to a choice of commercial application.

Synthesis, Spectral, Electrochemical and Photovoltaic Studies of A3B Porphyrinic Dyes having Peripheral Donors

“…[16,17] Often, by appending donor group (s) on porphyrin framework or extending the π-conjugation such results could be accomplished. [22][23][24][25][26] N,N-Diarylamino, carbazole and phenothiazine have been prominently utilized as excellent donor groups in porphyrin dyes. [22][23][24][25][26] N,N-Diarylamino, carbazole and phenothiazine have been prominently utilized as excellent donor groups in porphyrin dyes.…”

“…[18][19][20][21] Many donor substituents such as phenothiazine, diarylamino, anthracene, carbazole, fluorene, have been appended on porphyrin structures for improving their DSSC efficiency. [22][23][24][25][26] N,N-Diarylamino, carbazole and phenothiazine have been prominently utilized as excellent donor groups in porphyrin dyes. [27][28][29][30] The introduction of phenothiazine moiety is also favoravable for porphyrin dyes as its N-phenyl group can play an important role in reducing aggergation of porphyrins.…”

Solar Cells for Indoor Applications: Progress and Development

“…Therefore, for the past few years, some researchers have also attempted to develop Ru-free dyes such as Y1A1, SK6, SK7, D35:XY1, TY6, MD5, MD7, MM-3, MM-6, L350, CW10, LI-130, Y123, XY1b:Y123, D205, and Y123 for solar cell applications. Chen and co-workers used two types of Ru-free dyes, namely, SK6 (porphyrin-based) and CW10 (anthracene-based), in a DSSC for indoor applications [ 74 ]. The CW10-dye-based DSSC exhibited PCE of 22.5% and 20.90% under the illumination of T5 fluorescent and LED lamps, respectively.…”

Role of co-sensitization in dye-sensitized and quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

“…It was observed from this study that ZncTPBP attach only on the transparent layer due to its size dependent selective adsorption whereas H2cTPBP attach equally on the both transparent and light scatter layers of TiO 2 . One of the problem with the porphyrin dyes is formation of aggregation during sensitization process and a recent finding shows that this could be eliminated using optimized immersion time and suitable solvents [206]. In addition to retarding aggregation, a new carbazole moiety containing co-adsorbent HC-A effectively functioning in reducing the recombination and as a dye while absorbing light [234].…”