Structure-property relationships for three indoline dyes used in dye-sensitized solar cells: TDDFT study of visible absorption and photoinduced charge-transfer processes

Design of high performance p-type sensitizers with pyridinium derivatives as the acceptor by theoretical calculations

Based on triphenylamine as an electron donor and thiophene as a π-linker, Series P and A p-type sensitizers were designed to investigate the effects of the different acceptors on the properties of the sensitizers. The optimized molecular structures, electronic and optical properties were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The results showed that the properties of the dyes can be tuned by the introduction of the different electron-withdrawing groups to the N atom in the pyridinium acceptor. Compared with the synthesized Series P dyes used in p-type sensitizers, the properties of Series A dyes, except for two dyes that cannot be used as p-type sensitizers, are improved by means of modifying pyridinium acceptors. Due to the suitable electron-withdrawing ability of the hexafluorodiacetylamino group in its acceptor, A6 has the narrowest energy gap (1.90 eV), the largest driving force of hole injection (ΔG_inj, −0.68 eV), the high light harvesting efficiency (LHE, 0.9984) and the smallest internal reorganization energy (λ_int, 5.05 kcal mol⁻¹). Hence, A6 not only enhances electronic excitation, but also improves the reorganization energy. Importantly, A6 shows the largest red shift and the maximum integral values of the adsorption over the visible light, as well as the strongest adsorption energy (−74.80 kcal mol⁻¹) on a NiO surface. Thus, A6 may be a promising sensitizer for the p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and the acceptor of A6 may provide a new and easily accessible high performance acceptor for p-type sensitizers.

Based on triphenylamine as an electron donor and thiophene as a π-linker, Series P and A p-type sensitizers were designed to investigate the effects of the different acceptors on the properties of the sensitizers.

Effect of Nitrogen Cation as "Electron Trap" at π-Linker on Properties for p-Type Photosensitizers: DFT Study

On the basis of thieno(3,2-b)thiophene and dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophene (T2 and T3 moieties) as π-linker, the A, D and S series dyes were designed to investigate the effect of the introducing N⁺ as an “electron trap” into T2 and T3 on the properties of the dyes. The optimized structures, electronic and optical properties were investigated by the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The results show that the properties of the dyes are sensitive to the N⁺ position in π-linkers. D series dyes with electron-withdrawing units located near the donor have better properties than the corresponding A series with the electron-withdrawing units located near the acceptor. For A and D series, the N⁺ modified dye named T2N+1-d displays the largest red shift of the UV–vis absorption, the maximum integral values of the adsorption-wavelength curves over the visible light, the highest light harvesting efficiency (LHE, 0.996), and the strongest adsorption energy (−44.33 kcal/mol). T2N+1-d also has a large driving force of hole injection (ΔG_inj, −0.74 eV), which results in a more efficient hole injection. Bearing a lengthier π-linker than T2N+1-d, the properties of T2N+1-s are further improved. T2N+1-d moiety or its increased conjugated derivatives may be a promising π-linker.

Theoretical investigation of auxiliary electronic acceptors in modifying D-D-π-A sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

In light of the performance of the SD2 pigments in DSSC, in order to expand the absorption spectral scope, decrease the energy difference between the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, with SD2 dye molecular electron donor and electron acceptor as the fundamental framework, the indole fragment and thiophene derivative in the prototype dye molecule were replaced by the two π-bridges (labeled PA, PB, respectively) and the four auxiliary electron acceptors (labeled A1, A2, A3, A4, respectively). For the sake of characterizing dye molecules as thoroughly as possible in DSSC, the frontier orbital energy levels, ultraviolet absorption spectra, natural bond orbital analysis, intramolecular charge transfer, charge and hole reorganization energies, parameters influencing the short-circuit current density and the open-circuit photovoltage for these eight individual dye molecules are carried out to try to fully characterize the properties of these dye molecules. According to these computational results of physical quantities and based on the performance of these dye molecules in the above aspects, in this paper, six free molecular models were picked out to combine with titanium dioxide cluster to calculate their geometrical structures, frontier orbital distributions, electron excitation energies, ultraviolet absorption spectra and the composition of the electronic transitions in chloroform solvent with polarizable continuum model. The results of these calculations show that the PA-A2 and PB-A4 dye molecule has better properties in electron transfer and spectral absorption range before and after the adsorption on the titanium dioxide.

A comparative study of the influence of N,N'-dialkyl vs. N,N'-diaryl-based electron donor ancillary ligands on photocurrent and photovoltage in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

In this study, we report the synthesis of a novel heteroleptic Ru(ii)-sensitizer, (Ru(2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid)-4,4'-bis(4-piperidin-1-yl)phenyl ethenyl)-(2,2'-bipyridine) (NCS)₂, denoted as SD-1; moreover, its photophysical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic performances were compared with those of N719 and K77-7 (N,N'-diaryl Ru-sensitizer, namely Ru(2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic-acid)-4,4'-bis(2-(4-N,N'-diphenylaminophenyl)ethenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (NCS)₂). The photovoltaic performance of SD-1 outperformed those of N-719 and K77-7, particularly in the red region, and the overall efficiency of SD-1 was 8.5% as compared to 8.0% of K77-7 and 7.7% of N719 under the same experimental device conditions. The superior light harvesting efficiency of SD-1 can be attributed to the strong electron donor sp³-nitrogen, which is attached to two sp³-carbons (dialkyl), whereas in the case of K77-7, all carbon atoms attached to the sp³-nitrogen are sp², which decrease the electron density on the latter and minimize the electron-donating power of the ancillary ligand in K77-7. To gain a quantitative understanding of the electron density on nitrogen in SD-1 and K77-7, first-principle calculations using molecular and thermodynamic descriptors, such as frontier molecular orbitals, ground-state oxidation potential (GSOP), excited-state oxidation potential (ESOP), optical gap (E_0-0), and charge distributions, were conducted in solution. In addition, for understanding the anchored structures of dyes on Ti₂₄O₄₈, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) were utilized. Results of computational studies are in excellent agreement with the experimental results, which can be used as a screening tool for the design of more efficient molecular motifs for DSSCs.

Effect of substitution on the optoelectronic properties of dyes for DSSC. A DFT approach

The present work aims at a better and deeper insight into the forces that govern the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and photo injection processes in dyes for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The geometry, electronic structure, electron density distribution, and absorption spectra, for a selected donor-[Formula: see text]-acceptor (D-[Formula: see text]-A) dye for DSSC were computed and analyzed at a high level of DFT theory. The coplanar geometry of the studied dye (D1) indicates a strong conjugation which facilitates ICT. NBO analyses reveal that this ICT amounts to 0.8e, which is localized on the acceptor and anchoring groups resulting in a marked total delocalization interaction energy. The origin of this stabilization is two-fold; first the [Formula: see text]-charge transfer (CT) interaction from donor to acceptor orbitals and the hyperconjugative interactions involving Rydberg states. The effect of fluorine substituents, in the [Formula: see text]-spacer, on the quantum efficiency of DSSCs was investigated. Gibb’s free energy values, redox potentials, excited state life time, non-linear optical properties (NLO) and driving forces for D1 and its fluorinated derivatives were computed.

Controlling light absorption and photoelectric properties of coumarin-triphenylaminedye by different acceptor functional groups

The ground state and excited state properties of three coumarin dyes, ZCJ1, ZCJ2 and ZCJ3, including ground state structures, energy levels, absorption spectra and driving forces of electron injection, were investigated via density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). In addition, five new molecules ZCJ3-1, ZCJ3-2, ZCJ3-3, ZCJ3-4 and ZCJ3-5 were designed through the introduction of a -CN group into molecule ZCJ3. The ground state and excited state properties of the five designed molecules were also calculated and compared with that of the original molecule, aiming to investigate the effect of different position of -CN groups on the optical and electrical properties of dye molecules. Moreover, the external electric field was taken into account. The results indicated that all three original molecules have better absorption within the visible-light range, and the molecule with a thiophene-thiophene conjugated bridge enables a red shift of the absorption spectrum. The molecule with a thiophene-benzene ring conjugated bridge enables the increase of driving force of electron injection. The energy levels, spectra and driving force of electron injection for the designed molecules are discussed in terms of studying their potential utility in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Optical Absorption and Electron Injection of 4-(Cyanomethyl)benzoic Acid Based Dyes: A DFT Study

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations were carried out to study the ground state geometries, electronic structures, and absorption spectra of 4-(cyanomethyl)benzoic acid based dyes (AG1 and AG2) used for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The excited states properties and the thermodynamical parameters of electron injection were studied. The results showed that (a) two dyes have uncoplanar structures along the donor unit and conjugated bridge space, (b) two sensitizers exhibited intense absorption in the UV-Vis region, and (c) the excited state oxidation potential was higher than the conduction band edge of TiO2photoanode. As a result, a solar cell based on the 4-(cyanomethyl)benzoic acid based dyes exhibited well photovoltaic performance. Furthermore, nine dyes were designed on the basis of AG1 and AG2 to improve optical response and electron injection.

Theoretical studies on the quinoidal thiophene based dyes for dye sensitized solar cell and NLO applications

The designed quinoidal thiophene molecules are good candidates for DSSC applications.