Molecular Level Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Organic Chromophores for p-Type Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Svitlana Karamshuk; Stefano Caramori; Norberto Manfredi; Matteo Salamone; Riccardo Ruffo; Stefano Carli; Carlo A. Bignozzi; Alessandro Abbotto

LAPSE

Living Archive for Process Systems Engineering

LAPSE:2018.0773

Published Article

LAPSE:2018.0773

Molecular Level Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Organic Chromophores for p-Type Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Svitlana Karamshuk, Stefano Caramori, Norberto Manfredi, Matteo Salamone, Riccardo Ruffo, Stefano Carli, Carlo A. Bignozzi, Alessandro Abbotto

October 23, 2018

A series of mono- and di-branched donor-π-acceptor charge-separated dyes incorporating triphenylamine as a donor and either Dalton’s or benzothiadiazole group as strong acceptors was synthesized and its fundamental properties relevant to the sensitization of nanocrystalline NiO investigated. The dyes exhibited an intense visible absorption band with a strong charge transfer character favorable to NiO sensitization, shifting the electron density from the donor to the acceptor branches. Nevertheless, the computed exciton binding energy is circa twice that of a common literature standard (P1), suggesting a more difficult charge separation. When tested in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells the dyes successfully sensitized NiO electrodes, with photocurrent densities about half than that of the reference compound. Being recombination kinetics comparable, the larger photocurrent generated by P1 agrees with the superior charge separation capability originating by its smaller exciton binding energy.

Record ID

LAPSE:2018.0773

Keywords

branched, DFT-TDDFT, dipolar, donor–acceptor, dyes, heteroaromatic, Suzuki coupling, triphenylamine, visible absorption

Subject

Materials

Suggested Citation

Karamshuk S, Caramori S, Manfredi N, Salamone M, Ruffo R, Carli S, Bignozzi CA, Abbotto A. Molecular Level Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Organic Chromophores for p-Type Dye Sensitized Solar Cells. (2018). LAPSE:2018.0773

Author Affiliations

Karamshuk S: Department of Materials Science and Milano-Bicocca Solar Energy Research Center—MIB-Solar, University of Milano-Bicocca, INSTM Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
Caramori S: Department of Chemistry, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy [ORCID]
Manfredi N: Department of Materials Science and Milano-Bicocca Solar Energy Research Center—MIB-Solar, University of Milano-Bicocca, INSTM Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy [ORCID]
Salamone M: Department of Materials Science and Milano-Bicocca Solar Energy Research Center—MIB-Solar, University of Milano-Bicocca, INSTM Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
Ruffo R: Department of Materials Science and Milano-Bicocca Solar Energy Research Center—MIB-Solar, University of Milano-Bicocca, INSTM Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
Carli S: Department of Chemistry, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy [ORCID]
Bignozzi CA: Department of Chemistry, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Abbotto A: Department of Materials Science and Milano-Bicocca Solar Energy Research Center—MIB-Solar, University of Milano-Bicocca, INSTM Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
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Journal Name

Energies

Volume

9

Issue

1

Article Number

E33

Year

2016

Publication Date

2016-01-07