Natural-photosynthesis-inspired photovoltaic cells using carotenoid aggregates as electron donors and chlorophyll derivatives as electron acceptors

Zhuang, Taojun; Sasaki, Shin‐ichi; Ikeuchi, Toshitaka; Kido, Junji

doi:10.1039/c5ra07099f

Cited by 32 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…[4][5][6][7][8] Chlorophylls (Chls), which are the most abundant natural pigments, play key roles in early photophysical and -chemical events in naturalp hotosynthesis. [9] In the last decade, we have carried out as eries of investigationst oe xplore the possibility of employing Chls and their derivatives in emerging photovoltaic techniques, such as biomimetic systems, [10][11][12][13] DSSCs, [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] organic solar cells (OSCs), [28][29][30][31] and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). [32] These investigations are purely based on the fact that Chls are the only naturallyo ccurringo rganic semiconductors that possess the merits of large-scale resources,p ollution free, and optoelectrical variability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chlorophyll‐Based Organic–Inorganic Heterojunction Solar Cells

Zhao

et al. 2017

Chemistry A European J

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Solid-state chlorophyll solar cells (CSCs) employing a carboxylated chlorophyll derivative, methyl trans-3 -carboxypyropheophorbide a, as a light-harvesting dye sensitizer chlorophyll (DSC) deposited on mesoporous TiO , on which four zinc hydroxylated chlorophyll derivatives were spin-coated for hole transporter chlorophylls (HTCs), are described. Key parameters, including the effective carrier mobility of the HTC films, as determined by the space charge-limited current method, and the frontier molecular orbitals of these DSCs and HTCs, as estimated from cyclic voltammetry and electronic absorption spectra, suggest that both charge separation and carrier transport are favorable. The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the present CSCs with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/TiO /DSC/HTCs/Ag were determined to follow the order of HTC-1>HTC-2>HTC-3>HTC-4, which coincided perfectly with the order of their hole mobilities. The maximum PCE achieved was 0.86 % with HTC-1. The photovoltaic devices studied herein with two types of chlorophyll derivatives as dye sensitizers and hole transporters provide a unique solution for the utilization of solar energy with a view to truly realizing "green energy".

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chlorophyll‐Based Organic–Inorganic Heterojunction Solar Cells

Zhao

et al. 2017

Chemistry A European J

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On our planet natural photosynthesis has evolvedo ver billions of years;t herefore, it can provide ah uge material library for many potentiala pplications,p articularly in the fabrication of optoelectrical and photovoltaic devices. [1,2] Chlorophylls (Chls) are the most abundant, naturallyo ccurring photosynthetic pigments. [3] In the light-harvesting complexes (LHs) of natural phototrophs, Chls functiona sl ight absorbers to capturep hotons, and the resultant singlet energy is delocalized and transferred among Chl superassemblies toward the reaction center (RC).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dopant‐Free Zinc Chlorophyll Aggregates as an Efficient Biocompatible Hole Transporter for Perovskite Solar Cells

Sasaki

et al. 2016

ChemSusChem

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Chlorophylls (Chls) are abundant, naturally occurring pigments that play key roles in light-harvesting and electron/energy transfer in natural photosynthetic apparatus. To demonstrate the idea that Chls are suitable hole transporters, we employed two Chl derivatives, Chl-1 and Chl-2, which self-assembled readily into π-stacking aggregates through a simple spincasting process, in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The Chl aggregate films exhibit an ultra-smooth film surface, high hole mobility, appropriate energy levels, and efficient hole injection efficiencies that are all key characteristics for efficient hole transporters in PSCs. CH NH PbI Cl -based PSCs with these Chls as hole transporters were fabricated and compared with P3HT as a standard hole transporter. PSCs based on Chl-1 and Chl-2 without the use of typical additives, such as 4-tert-butylpyridine and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfinyl)imide, gave power conversion efficiencies of 11.44 and 8.06 %, respectively. This research provides a unique way to incorporate low-cost and environmentally friendly natural photosynthetic materials in the development of highly efficient photovoltaic devices.

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“…m/z (SALDI) found: 564. 4 Methylmesopyropheophorbide a azine (4). To a solution of 100 mg (0.182 mmol) of methylpyropheophorbide a in 30 mL of CH 2 Cl 2 hydrazine hydrate (9 μL, 0.182 mmol) was added.…”

Section: Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Back engineering of the natural photosystems may lead to the creation of the photoactive materials for solar energy conversion. [4][5][6] A fine tuning of the chlorophylls optical properties is essential for the efficient energy-harvesting, energy-migrating, and charge-separating processes at the initial stages of natural photosynthesis. The same is also applied for the synthetically derived chlorins acting as photoactive materials in solar cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%