Issue 107, 2014

Influence of a co-adsorbent on the performance of bis(diimine) copper(i)-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In the bis(diimine) copper(I) dyes, [Cu(1)(3)]+ and [Cu(1)(4)]+ (1 = ((6,6′-dimethyl-[2,2′-bipyridine]-4,4′-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene))bis(phosphonic acid), the ancillary ligands 3 and 4 contain sterically demanding second-generation hole-transporting dendrons with methyl or phenyl substituents adjacent to the N-donor atoms of the 2,2′-bipyridine metal-binding domain. The performances of DSCs containing [Cu(1)(3)]+ and [Cu(1)(4)]+ depend on both the solvent (acetone or CH2Cl2) used in the dye-bath and on the presence of a co-adsorbent. Irrespective of solvent, the dye [Cu(1)(4)]+ (6,6′-Ph2-substituted) only performs well if chenodeoxycholic acid (cheno) is added as a co-adsorbent; for [Cu(1)(3)]+, cheno has a noticeable effect when the dye assembly is carried out in CH2Cl2. Overall, the results indicate that a combination of small 6,6′-substituents in the ancillary ligand and acetone in the dye-dipping cycle lead to the best performing dyes, and for the second-generation dyes, the addition of cheno is essential. Conditions to form TiO2-bound [Cu(1)(5)]+ (5 = 4,4′-bis(4-iodophenyl)-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) in a stepwise manner have been optimized and the effects of introducing cheno at different points during the dye-assembly process have been investigated. When cheno is added to the [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6]/5 dye-bath, the DSCs exhibit values of JSC, VOC and η values that are similar to those with no co-adsorbent. However, competitive binding of 1 and cheno in the first dipping-cycle leads to lower values of JSC and lower photoconversion efficiencies.

Graphical abstract: Influence of a co-adsorbent on the performance of bis(diimine) copper(i)-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Oct 2014
Accepted
11 Nov 2014
First published
20 Nov 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 62728-62736

Author version available

Influence of a co-adsorbent on the performance of bis(diimine) copper(I)-based dye-sensitized solar cells

S. Y. Brauchli, F. J. Malzner, E. C. Constable and C. E. Housecroft, RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 62728 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA12284D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements