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Kaya S, Thakur A, Kumar A. The role of in Silico/DFT investigations in analyzing dye molecules for enhanced solar cell efficiency and reduced toxicity. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 124:108536. [PMID: 37300949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Toxicity has been a significant concern for many materials used in the production of solar cells and generally conflicts with its efficacy. Therefore, it is crucial to develop alternative, non-toxic materials to improve the sustainability and safety of solar cell technology. In recent years, computational methods such as Conceptual density functional theory (CDFT) have been increasingly used to study the electronic structure and optical properties of toxic molecules such as dyes, with the goal of designing and modifying these molecules to enhance solar cell efficiency and reduce toxicity. By applying CDFT-based chemical reactivity parameters and electronic structure rules, researchers can gain valuable insights into the performance of solar cells and optimize their design accordingly. In silico studies have been used to screen and design non-toxic dye molecules, which can improve the sustainability and safety of solar cell technology. This review article discusses the applications of CDFT in the analysis of toxic dye molecules for use in solar cells. This review also highlights the importance of using alternative, non-toxic materials in the production of solar cells. The review also discusses the limitations of CDFT and in silico studies and their potential for future research. Finally, the article concludes by emphasizing the potential of in silico/DFT investigations for accelerating the discovery of new and efficient dye molecules for enhancing solar cells' efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savaş Kaya
- Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Health Services Vocational School, Department of Pharmacy, 58140, Sivas, Turkey.
| | - Abhinay Thakur
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Physical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- NCE, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Bihar, India
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2
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Shafiq A, Adnan M, Hussain R, Irshad Z, Farooq U, Muhammad S. Molecular Engineering of Anthracene Core-Based Hole-Transporting Materials for Organic and Perovskite Photovoltaics. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:35937-35955. [PMID: 37810664 PMCID: PMC10551914 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Anthracene core-based hole-transporting material containing TIPs (triisopropylsilylacetylene) has been spotlighted as potential donors for perovskite solar cells (SCs) due to their appropriate energy levels, efficient hole transport capacity, high stability, and high power conversion efficiency. Herein, we have efficiently designed seven new highly conjugated A-B-D-C-D molecules (AS1-AS7) containing an anthracene core. We used end-capped modifications of donor units with acceptor units on one side and then theoretically characterized them for their appropriate use for SC applications. Modern quantum chemistry techniques have theoretically described the R (reference molecule) and developed (AS1-AS7) molecules. Moreover, the proposed (AS1-AS7) molecules are explored with density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) employing B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), and numerous parameters like photovoltaic, optical and electronic characteristics, frontier molecular orbital, excitation, binding and reorganization (λe and λh) energies, open circuit voltage, light harvesting efficiency, transition density matrix, fill factor, and the density of states have been studied. End-capped modification causes a smaller band gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), higher UV-vis absorption maxima, tuned energy levels, lower binding and reorganizational (λe and λh) energies, and larger Voc values in proposed (AS1-AS7) molecules than R. AS5 has a remarkable absorption maximum of 495.94 nm and a narrow optimal energy gap (Eg) of 1.46 eV. Furthermore, a complex study of AS5:PC61BM has revealed extraordinary charge shifting at the HOMO (AS5)-LUMO (PC61BM) interface. Our results suggested that newly developed anthracene core-based compounds (AS1-AS7) would be effective candidates with excellent photovoltaic and optoelectronic properties and could be employed in future organic and perovskite SC applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaida Shafiq
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Okara, Okara 56300, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Adnan
- Graduate
School of Energy Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Riaz Hussain
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Okara, Okara 56300, Pakistan
| | - Zobia Irshad
- Graduate
School of Energy Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Umar Farooq
- School
of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Shabbir Muhammad
- Department
of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid
University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
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3
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Hassan T, Sajid I, Ramzan Saeed Ashraf Janjua M, Shafiq Z, Yasir Mehboob M, Sultan N. Non-fullerene based photovoltaic materials for solar cell applications: DFT-based analysis and interpretation. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2023; 1224:114128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2023.114128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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4
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Arshad M, Arshad S, Majeed MK, Frueh J, Chang C, Bilal I, Niaz SI, Khan MS, Tariq MA, Yasir Mehboob M. Transition Metal-Decorated Mg 12O 12 Nanoclusters as Biosensors and Efficient Drug Carriers for the Metformin Anticancer Drug. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:11318-11325. [PMID: 37008110 PMCID: PMC10061506 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Drug carriers have been designed and investigated remarkably due to their effective use in the modern medication process. In this study, the decoration of the Mg12O12 nanocluster has been done with transition metals (Ni and Zn) for effective adsorption of metformin (anticancer drug). Decoration of Ni and Zn on a nanocluster allows two geometries, and similarly, the adsorption of metformin also provides two geometries. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory have been employed at the B3LYP with 6-311G(d,p) level. The decoration of Ni and Zn offers good attachment and detachment of the drug, which is observed from their good adsorption energy values. Further, the reduction in the energy band gap is noted in the metformin-adsorbed nanocluster, which allows high charge transfer from a lower energy level to a high energy level. The drug carrier systems show an efficient working mechanism in a water solvent with the visible-light absorption range. Natural bonding orbital and dipole moment values suggested that the adsorption of the metformin causes charge separation in these systems. Moreover, low values of chemical softness with a high electrophilic index recommended that these systems are naturally stable with the least reactivity. Thus, we offer novel kinds of Ni- and Zn-decorated Mg12O12 nanoclusters as efficient carriers for metformin and also recommend them to experimentalists for the future development of drug carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Arshad
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences, Gomal University, 29050 Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Shafia Arshad
- University
College of Conventional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health
Sciences, The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Punjab 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad K. Majeed
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, The
University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington 76019, Texas, United States
| | - Johannes Frueh
- Tomsk
Polytechnic University, 30 Lenin Avenue, 634050 Tomsk, Russian Federation
- Institute
of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150080 Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Chun Chang
- College of
Environment and Chemical Engineering, Dalian
University, Dalian, Liaoning 116622, China
| | - Ibtsam Bilal
- Faculty
of Life Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University of Okara, Okara, Punjab 56300, Pakistan
| | - Shah Iram Niaz
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences, Gomal University, 29050 Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shahzeb Khan
- Sulaiman
Bin Abdullah Aba Al-Khail Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in
Basic Sciences (SA-CIRBS), Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Yasir Mehboob
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Okara, Okara, Punjab 56300, Pakistan
- . Tel.: +92-303-8670504
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Muhammad Asif Iqbal M, Arshad M, Yasir Mehboob M, Shahzeb Khan M, Piracha S. Designing efficient A-D-A 1-D-A type fullerene free acceptor molecules with enhanced power conversion efficiency for solar cell applications. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 285:121844. [PMID: 36095855 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.121844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The achievement of highly efficient power conversion efficiency (PCE) is a big concern for non-fullerene organic solar cells (NF-OSCs) because PCE can depend on numerous variables. Here, new five novel acceptor molecules without fullerenes were developed and investigated using DFT (density functional theory) and TD-DFT (time dependent-density functional theory). Compared to the recently synthesized molecule (PZ-dIDTC6), the developed molecules display a narrow optical band gap, exhibiting a red shift in the absorption spectrum. The developed molecules (YM1-YM5) express high mobility of electrons and holes in the active layer of OSCs (organic solar cells). In addition, high open-circuit voltage (Voc) values with maximum charge density shifting are noted in designed molecules. YM1-YM5 is also associated with low binding energy and excitation energy. This work proves that noncovalent conformational locking is favourable for improving PCE devices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Muhammad Arshad
- Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yatsen University, 70 Lien-Hai Road, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | | | - Muhammad Shahzeb Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Functional Materials, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Sanwal Piracha
- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Punjab 38000, Pakistan
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6
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High electron mobility due to extra π-conjugation in the end-capped units of non-fullerene acceptor molecules: a DFT/TD-DFT-based prediction. J Mol Model 2022; 28:278. [PMID: 36028595 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-022-05283-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
A combination of high open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current density (Jsc) typically creates effective organic solar cells (OSCs). To enhance the open-circuit voltage, we have designed three new fullerene-free acceptor molecules with elongated π-conjugation in the end-capped units. Y-series-based newly designed molecules (CPSS-4F, CPSS-4Cl, CPSS-4CN) exhibited a narrow energy bandgap with high electron mobility. Red shift in the absorption spectrum with high intensities is also noted for designed molecules. Low binding and excitation energies of designed molecules favor easy excitation of exciton in the excited state. Further, CPSS-4F, CPSS-4Cl, and CPSS-4CN exhibited better open-circuit voltage with favorable molecular orbitals contributions. Transition density analysis (TDM) was also performed to locate the total transitions in the designed molecules. Outcomes of all analyses suggested that designed molecules are effective contributors to the active layer of organic solar cells.
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Theoretical designing of selenium heterocyclic non-fullerene acceptors with enhanced power conversion efficiency for organic solar cells: a DFT/TD-DFT-based prediction and understanding. J Mol Model 2022; 28:228. [DOI: 10.1007/s00894-022-05225-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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8
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Asif Iqbal MM, Mehboob MY, Arshad M. Quinoxaline based unfused non-fullerene acceptor molecules with PTB7-Th donor polymer for high performance organic solar cell applications. J Mol Graph Model 2022; 114:108181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Halim SA, Ibrahim MA. Synthesis, spectral analysis, quantum studies, NLO, and thermodynamic properties of the novel 5-(6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-1-benzofuran-5-ylcarbonyl)-6-amino-3-methyl-1 H-pyrazolo[3,4- b] pyridine (HMBPP). RSC Adv 2022; 12:13135-13153. [PMID: 35497014 PMCID: PMC9053073 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra01469f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ring opening followed by ring closure reactions of 4-methoxy-5-oxo-5H-furo[3,2-g] chromene-6-carbonitrile (1) with 5-amino-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole (2) afforded the novel 5-(6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-1-benzofuran-5-ylcarbonyl)-6-amino-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b] pyridine (3, HMBPP). The chemical structure of the synthesized compound was established based on elemental analysis and spectral data. The chemical calculations were performed using the Becke3–Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP) and Coulomb Attenuating Method (CAM-B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) basis sets at the DFT level of theory. The Coulomb-attenuating method (CAM-B3LYP) and Corrected Linear Response Polarizable Continuum Model (CLR) PCM were used to obtain the theoretical electronic absorption spectra in the gas phase, methanol, and cyclohexane, respectively, indicating good agreement with the observed spectra. The local reactivity descriptors supported the high reactivity of C7 for nucleophilic attack. The computed total energy and thermodynamic parameters at the same level of calculations confirmed the high stability of structure 3 (HMBPP) as compared with the other expected structure 4. The 1H and 13C chemical shift values, as well as vibrational wavenumber values, were theoretically determined and exhibited a high correlation with the experimental data. Natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) was used to investigate hyper conjugative interactions. The first static hyperpolarizability, second hyperpolarizability, polarizability, and electric dipole moment have been determined. At different temperatures, the thermodynamic properties of the compounds were calculated. Ring opening followed by ring closure reactions of 4-methoxy-5-oxo-5H-furo[3,2-g] chromene-6-carbonitrile with 5-amino-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole gave the novel 5-(6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-1-benzofuran-5-ylcarbonyl)-6-amino-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b] pyridine.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimaa Abdel Halim
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University Roxy 11711 Cairo Egypt +20 1090306455
| | - Magdy A Ibrahim
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University Roxy 11711 Cairo Egypt +20 1090306455
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Efficient designing of half-moon-shaped chalcogen heterocycles as non-fullerene acceptors for organic solar cells. J Mol Model 2022; 28:125. [PMID: 35459976 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-022-05116-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
One key strategy to further improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) is to incorporate various complementary functional groups in a molecule. Such strategies proved attractive for tuning the photovoltaic performances of the materials and can show a much higher absorption phenomenon with narrower band gaps. Despite the outstanding benefits, materials selection and their efficient modeling is also an extremely challenging job for the development of OSCs materials. In this manuscript, we proficiently developed an efficient series of small molecule-based non-fullerene acceptors (SM-NFAs) SN1-SN9 for OSCs and characterized by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The characteristics required to estimate electron and hole mobility, and open-circuit voltage (Voc) were investigated by optimizing the geometrical parameters, absorption spectra, exciton binding energy, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), electronic structures, and charge transfer rates. The outcomes of these materials showed that all newly constructed small-molecule-based non-fullerene acceptors exhibit broader and better absorption efficiency (λmax = 761 to 778 nm) and exciton dissociation, while much lower LUMO energy levels which may help to enhance the reorganizational energies. Further, a narrow bandgap also offers better photovoltaic properties. Hence, the designed molecules exhibited narrow bandgap values (Eg = 2.82 to 2.98 eV) which are lower than that of the reference molecule (3.05 eV). High Voc and photocurrent density values with lower excitation and binding energies eventually increase the PCEs of the OSC devices. The obtained results have shown that designed molecules could be effective aspirants for high-performance OSCs.
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Quantum chemical designing of novel fullerene-free acceptor molecules for organic solar cell applications. J Mol Model 2022; 28:67. [PMID: 35201436 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-022-05062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Organic solar cells (OSCs) with bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structures consisting of electron-donor and electron-acceptor materials have achieved impressive progress over the past decade, demonstrating their great potential in practical applications. In this study, we have designed five fullerene-free acceptor-based molecules containing indaceno-dithiophene as a central core moiety. We studied the optoelectronic features of these newly architecture molecules by using DFT and TD-DFT approaches. For the investigation of the optoelectronic characteristics of the reference and newly designed molecules, we performed different parameters including FMO's, absorption maxima, excitation energy, transition density matrix (TDM) along with binding energy, dipole moment, the partial density of states, charge mobility, and charge transfer analysis. Among all engineered molecules, SK1 has proven to be the most efficient solar cell due to its promising optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties. SK1 reveals smaller band-gap (Egap = 1.959 eV) and lesser λh (0.0070 eV) and λe (0.0051 eV). SK1 illustrated comparable binding energy value (0.33 eV) and lowest excitation energy (1.62 eV) which will lead to improved power conversion efficiency values. The SK1 molecule demonstrated the highest λmax value (764 nm) in the solvent phase which could lead to redshift absorption for achieving the high efficiency of OSCs. This molecular modeling approves that the best working efficiency of organic solar devices can be achieved by terminal group modifications due to their promising photovoltaic and optoelectronic properties. It is evident from the current analysis that all the theoretically fabricated molecules (SK1-SK5) are fabulous and highly suggested to experimental workers for their synthesis and advancement of these highly competent solar devices in the future.
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