Issue 43, 2015

Improved molecular architecture of D–π–A carbazole dyes: 9% PCE with a cobalt redox shuttle in dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Two new D–π–A dyes (SK2 & SK3) based on carbazole, and vinylene-phenylene (π-bridge) with rhodanine-3-acetic acid and cyanoacrylic acid as electron withdrawing–injecting as well as anchoring groups were designed and synthesised under conditions that were free from precious metal-catalysts and well characterized for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. A high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9% (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW cm−2) has been achieved using cyanoacrylic acid as an acceptor in D–π–A carbazole dye (SK3) with a cobalt based redox shuttle, while a PCE of 7.1% was exhibited in triiodide based redox mediators. A short-circuit current density, Jsc of ∼18.2 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage, Voc of ∼725 mV, and a fill factor, FF of ∼67% have been afforded by the SK3 based DSSC incorporating the Co2+/Co3+ electrolyte as the one-electron redox mediator. In contrast, SK2 dye based DSSCs with a cobalt based redox mediator have shown a Jsc ≈ 8.4 mA cm−2, a Voc ≈ 587 mV, and a FF ≈ 48%, yielding a PCE of 2.4%. The devices based on SK3 showed outstanding stability performance without significant degradation even after 1000 h of illumination under standard conditions in the Co2+/Co3+ electrolyte.

Graphical abstract: Improved molecular architecture of D–π–A carbazole dyes: 9% PCE with a cobalt redox shuttle in dye sensitized solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Aug 2015
Accepted
07 Sep 2015
First published
09 Sep 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 21664-21671

Improved molecular architecture of D–π–A carbazole dyes: 9% PCE with a cobalt redox shuttle in dye sensitized solar cells

S. S. Soni, K. B. Fadadu, J. V. Vaghasiya, B. G. Solanki, K. K. Sonigara, A. Singh, D. Das and P. K. Iyer, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 21664 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA06548H

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