Rational design criteria for D–π–A structured organic and porphyrin sensitizers for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

This review discusses recent progress and the rational design criteria used in the structural design of organic dyes and porphyrin photosensitizers for DSSCs. The effects of molecular structural engineering on the photophysical and electrochemical properties, photovoltaic parameters, and efficiency of DSSCs are presented.

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

“…To estimate the driving force of electron injection, the electrochemical properties of the trans-A 2 BC and A 3 B porphyrin dyes were measured using cyclic (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques with three electrode system in odichlorobenzene containing 0.1 M (n-Bu) 4 NClO 4 as supporting electrolyte with 100 mV s À 1 scan rate and their data are listed in Table 2. CVs and DPVs of A 3 B and trans-A 2 BC Zn(II) porphyrin dyes are presented in Figure 3 and Figure S28 in SI, respectively.…”

“…Among these, porphyrins are highly exploited because of their strong absorption in the visible region, easy modification of the core structure as well as facile tuning of photophysical and the electronic properties. [3][4][5][6][7] Modification of the porphyrin framework via β-pyrrole and meso-carbon functionalization provide a good way to develop low cost and highly efficient dyes for DSSCs; consequently, many porphyrin dyes have been reported for DSSCs applications in the literature. [8][9][10][11] In recent years, "push-pull" or D-π-A type porphyrin dyes have made positive impact as highly efficient dyes which consist of electron donor (push) and electron acceptor (pull) groups linked via πbridges.…”

The Hagfeldt Donor and Use of Next‐Generation Bulky Donor Designs in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

“…In general, the intense research efforts surrounding dye‐sensitized renewable energy applications including dye‐sensitized photoelectrochemical cells, solar batteries, and DSCs is owed to the tunable nature of the sensitizers . Recently, organic dyes have been dominant in terms of DSC PCEs due to the compatibility that these molecules have shown with 1‐electron redox shuttles, which have been almost exclusively used in devices with >12 % PCE values within the DSC field . The donor–π bridge–acceptor (D‐π‐A) design (and similar derivations) has resulted in exceptional performances in part because of the use of a bulky, surface‐protecting donor group referred to as the “Hagfeldt donor” (HF, Figure ).…”

Electron‐Withdrawing Anchor Group of Sensitizer for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells, Cyanoacrylic Acid, or Benzoic Acid?

“…Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted significant attention in recent decades as promising renewable energy conversion devices, due to their attractive features including low cost, flexibility, and easy fabrication . To date, various sensitizers have been developed for the applications of DSSCs . Among various sensitizers, porphyrin sensitizer‐based DSSCs in combination with a cobalt electrolyte have shown a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 13% .…”