Issue 35, 2015

Strategies for optimizing the performance of carbazole thiophene appended unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Unsymmetrical squaraine dyes (CTSQ-1 and CTSQ-2) with carbazole thiophene donor units were synthesized, characterized and used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These squaraines exhibited intense absorption in the near IR-visible region of the solar spectrum both in solution and on TiO2 surface. The LUMO level of the parent sensitizer (CTSQ-2) was positioned at a potential much close to the conduction band of TiO2 resulting in lack of enough driving force for electron injection which was modulated by structurally changing the donor carbazole moiety (CTSQ-1), pushing the LUMO more positive thereby enhancing the driving force. Theoretical calculations were carried out in order to have a better understanding of the electron density distribution in CTSQ-1 and CTSQ-2. Electron injection dynamics in CTSQ-1 was studied in detail by changing the Li+ concentration and its effects on photovoltaic parameters were discussed with the help of JV, IPCE, lifetime and EIS measurements.

Graphical abstract: Strategies for optimizing the performance of carbazole thiophene appended unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Jun 2015
Accepted
03 Aug 2015
First published
07 Aug 2015

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015,17, 23095-23103

Author version available

Strategies for optimizing the performance of carbazole thiophene appended unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

S. Soman, M. A. Rahim, S. Lingamoorthy, C. H. Suresh and S. Das, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 23095 DOI: 10.1039/C5CP03371C

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