Perylene Anhydride Fused Porphyrins as Near-Infrared Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Pd(II) and Cu(III) Complexes of Multiply Fused Pentaphyrin Isomers with Tunable Structures and NIR Absorption

Fused porphyrinoids have received increasing interest in light of their extended conjugation and unique coordination behavior. On the basis of our previously reported multiply fused pentaphyrin isomers 1 and 2, a novel isomer 3 has been synthesized in this work. 3 possesses a hexacyclic fused moiety with a nearly coplanar CCNN cavity involving an inverted pyrrole, which is slightly different from the CNNN ones of 1 and 2 involving an N-confused pyrrole. 1-3 possess cavities with three depronatable protons and thus they all can generate Cu(III) complexes. However, only 3Cu is stable under ambient conditions. On the other hand, 3 remains intact upon treatment with Pd(II) ions, while 1 and 2 could undergo structural rearrangement to accommodate Pd(II), affording 1Pd and 2Pd accompanied by the formation of a lactone ring and the addition of a methoxy group, respectively. Compared with the free bases, the complexes show distinct aromaticity and more intense near-infrared (NIR) absorption up to ca. 1600, 1170, and 1500 nm, respectively. The results indicate that the subtle modification of the linking modes between the pyrrolic units in the fused pentaphyrinoids is effective in modulating the coordination behavior for synthesizing complexes with tunable aromaticity and NIR absorption.

Directly-Fused Ni(II)Porphyrin Conjugated Polymers with Blocked meso-Positions: Impact on Electrocatalytic Properties

The oxidative coupling reaction of two Ni(II) porphyrins meso-substituted with three and four phenyl groups, Ni(II) 5,10,15-(triphenyl)porphyrin (NiPh3P) and Ni(II) 5,10,15,20-(tetraphenyl)porphyrin (NiPh4P) respectively, was investigated in a oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) process. Irrespective of the number of meso-substituents, high-resolution mass spectrometry evidences the formation of oligomeric species containing up to five porphyrin units. UV-Vis-NIR and XPS analyses of the oCVD films highlighted a strong dependence of the intermolecular coupling reaction with the substrate temperature. Specifically, higher substrate temperatures yield lowering of valence band maxima and reduction of the band gap. The formation of conjugated polymeric assemblies results in increased conductivities as compared to their sublimed counterparts. Yet, electrocatalytic measurements exhibit water oxidation onset overpotentials (308 mV for pNiPh3P and 343 mV for pNiPh4P) comparatively higher than the onset overpotential measured for the oCVD film from Ni(II) 5,15-(diphenyl)porphyrin (pNiPh2P), i. e. 283 mV. Although DFT and comparative oCVD studies suggest the formation of directly fused porphyrins involving 'phenyl-mediated' and β-β linkages when reacting tetra-meso-substituted porphyrins, the present findings highlight that multiple direct fusion (β-β/meso-meso/β-β or meso-β/β-meso) is essential for Ni(II) porphyrin-based conjugated polymers to enable a dinuclear radical oxo-coupling operating mechanism for water oxidation at low overpotential and durable catalytic activity.

A promising small-sized near-infrared absorbing zwitterionic dye for DSSC and NLO applications: DFT and TD-DFT approaches

Herein we investigate three quinoid zwitterionic dye sensitizers having donor-donor (4-dimethylaniline; ZIDM), donor-acceptor (4-dimethylaniline and 4-benzoic acid; ZIMCA), and acceptor-acceptor (4-benzoic acid; ZIDCA) that can be used in dye sensitized-solar cells and non-linear optical (NLO) application through density-functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent-DFT computations. ZIDM showed better charge transfer than ZIMCA and ZIDCA, which showed similar trends in chemical potential, electrophilicity index, hardness, and hyperhardness. The higher values of open circuit voltage, light harvesting efficiency, lower binding, and adsorption energy values for the dye to bind with the TiO2 cluster were observed for ZIDM. The results suggest that these dyes can easily hold with the TiO2 cluster through the monodentate binding mode possible between Ti and oxygen of the zwitterionic backbone. The examination of the linear and NLO properties of these dyes revealed that ZIDM has a higher α0 = 80.64 × 10-24 esu, β0 = 448.54 × 10-30 esu, and γ = 2219.23 × 10-36 esu in DCM. Similarly, higher values of molecular hyperpolarizability of 1335.0 × 10-48 esu and 8818.3 × 10-48 esu were observed in gas and DCM for ZIDM than ZIMCA and ZIDCA.

Conjugated porphyrin polymer films with nickel single sites for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction

Directly fused nickel(ii) porphyrins are successfully investigated as heterogeneous single-site catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Conjugated polymer thin films from Ni(ii) 5,15-(di-4-methoxycarbonylphenyl)porphyrin (pNiDCOOMePP) and Ni(ii) 5,15-diphenylporphyrin (pNiDPP) showed an OER onset overpotential of 270 mV, and current densities of 1.6 mA cm-2 and 1.2 mA cm-2 at 1.6 V vs. RHE, respectively, representing almost a hundred times higher activity than those of monomeric thin films. The fused porphyrin thin films are more kinetically and thermodynamically active than their non-polymerized counterparts mainly due to the formation of conjugated structures enabling a dinuclear radical oxo-coupling (ROC) mechanism at low overpotential. More importantly, we have deciphered the role of the porphyrin substituent in the conformation and performance of porphyrin conjugated polymers as (1) to control the extension of the conjugated system during the oCVD reaction, allowing the retention of the valence band deep enough to provide a high thermodynamic water oxidation potential, (2) to provide a flexible molecular geometry to facilitate O2 formation from the interaction between the Ni-O sites and to weaken the π-bond of the *Ni-O sites for enhanced radical character, and (3) to optimize the water interaction with the central metal cation of the porphyrin for superior electrocatalytic properties. These findings open the scope for molecular engineering and further integration of directly fused porphyrin-based conjugated polymers as efficient heterogeneous catalysts.

Strong second order nonlinear optical properties of azulene-based porphyrin derivatives

The high stability, feasible modification, and good π-conjugation of porphyrin derivatives render these porphyrin-based nanomaterials suitable as potential third order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Introducing an azulene in pristine porphyrins can significantly improve the second order NLO properties of the system, and this is studied in the present work using density functional theory based methods and the sum-over-states model. The relative orientation of azulene plays a determinant role in the enhancement of the static first hyperpolarizability (〈β₀〉), e.g., the 〈β₀〉 per heavy atom increases from 0.31 × 10^-30 esu to 9.78 × 10^-30 esu. Further addition of metals (Mg and Zn) in these azulene-fused porphyrin systems leads to an even larger 〈β₀〉 per heavy atom of 41.59 × 10^-30 esu, much larger than that of a recently reported porphyrin derivative (26.47 × 10^-30 esu). A novel strategy to stabilize the electronic structures as well as maintain good second order NLO responses by introducing appropriate metals into the azulene-fused porphyrins is extendable to other similar systems. Strong sum frequency generation and different frequency generations of those azulene-fused porphyrins in visible and near-infrared regions may inspire experimental exploration and related applications of azulene-based porphyrins particularly in biological nonlinear optics.

Synthesis and Redox Properties of Superbenzene Porphyrin Conjugates

Superbenzene porphyrin conjugates find wide range of applications from nonlinear optical materials to semiconductors. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of 5,15-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-10,20-bis(pentaphenylphenyl)phenylporphyrin and its Zinc-metallated complex. Oxidative planarization of 5,15-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-10,20-bis(pentaphenylphenyl)phenylporphyrin and its metallated complex was carried out by using NOBF₄ as an oxidizing agent. The formation of superbenzene porphyrin conjugates validates its Scholl type reactions. The laboratory-synthesized porphyrin conjugates were characterized experimentally using spectroscopic techniques such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, electron spin resonance, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy for structural conformation. In addition, density functional theory calculations were carried out to validate the experimental results. The theoretical and experimental results show that the 4-(pentaphenylphenyl)phenyl ligand increases the stability, optical properties, and rate of planarization of synthesized porphyrins. The conjugates exhibited intense and distant electronic communication between two hexabenzocoronene sites, taking advantage of porphyrin as a π-spacer. The π-radical cation has also been found to be an intermediate in oxidative C-C bond formation. NICS calculations support such a conclusion.

Extending a porphyrin chromophore via fusion with naphthalene

An intramolecular oxidative aromatic coupling of meso-substituted porphyrins bearing electron-rich aromatics was the focus of investigation. The formation of C–C bond at [Formula: see text]-position for macrocycles bearing dimethoxynaphthalene moiety was achieved. It was established that Fe(ClO[Formula: see text]O induced only single cyclodehydrogenation whereas Fe(OTf)[Formula: see text] had the ability to remove four hydrogens and four electrons forming doubly-fused porphyrin. Both Fe(ClO[Formula: see text]O and Fe(OTf)[Formula: see text] were confirmed superior to FeCl[Formula: see text] as they ensured efficient oxidation process without concomitant chlorination of the products. We have proven that the trans-A[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text]-porphyrin with two indole moieties do not form any stable products under such reaction conditions. The single fusion with dimethoxynaphthalene moiety has a comparable effect on absorption spectra [Formula: see text]. the Q-band of Ni-complexes is shifted to 650 nm. The Ni-porphyrin fused with two naphthalene units had bathochromically shifted Q-bands to 733 nm.

Structural, Photophysical, and Electrochemical Properties of Doubly Fused Porphyrins and Related Fused Chlorins

The electrochemical and physicochemical properties of tetraphenylporphyrins and tetraphenylchlorins with two fused indanedione (IND) or malononitrile (MN) groups and two antipodal Br, Ph, or H β-substituents are investigated in nonaqueous media. These compounds were synthesized by oxidative fusion of free-base trans-chlorins, followed by metalation. The corresponding free-base di-fused chlorins were also isolated as intermediates and characterized for comparisons. The examined di-fused porphyrins (DFP) and di-fused chlorins (DFC) are represented as MDFP(Y)₂(R)₂ and H₂DFC(Y)₂(R)₂, where M = 2H, Cu^II, Ni^II, Zn^II, and Co^II, Y is a fused indanedione (IND) or malononitrile group (MN), and R = H, Br, or Ph. The IND- and MN-appended compounds in both series exhibit the expected two one-electron oxidations but quite different redox behavior is observed upon reduction, where the free-base IND-appended chlorins show four reversible one-electron reductions, compared to only two for the related free-base MN-appended chlorins. Although porphyrin trianions and tetraanions have been recently described for derivatives with highly electron-withdrawing and/or π-extending substituents, this seems not to be the case for the doubly fused IND-chlorins, where the first two one-electron additions are proposed to be located at the conjugated macrocycle and the last two at the fused IND groups, each of which is reduced at a different potential, consistent with the behavior expected for two equivalent and interacting redox centers. Unlike the examined chlorins, which are all stable in their electroreduced forms, the electrogenerated anionic forms of the di-fused porphyrins are all highly reactive and characterized by cyclic voltammograms having reduction peaks not only for the synthesized compounds added to solution but also for one or more new redox active species formed at the electrode surface in homogeneous chemical reactions following electron transfer. Comparisons are made between electrochemical behavior of the structurally related porphyrins and chlorins and the sites of electron transfer assigned on the basis of known electrochemical diagnostic criteria. One of the compounds, ZnDFP(MN)₂, was also structurally characterized as having a ruffled and twisted macrocyclic conformation.

Molecular flattening effect to enhance the conductivity of fused porphyrin tape thin films

The straightforward synthesis of directly fused porphyrins (porphyrin tapes) from 5,15-diphenyl porphyrinato nickel(ii) complexes with different substituents on the phenyl rings is achieved while processing from the gas phase. The porphyrin tapes, exhibiting NIR absorption, are readily obtained in thin film form. The gas phase approach cuts the need for solubilizing groups allowing for the first time the study of their conductivity according to the substituent. 2-Point probe and conductivity AFM measurements evidence that reducing the size of the meso substituents, phenyl < mesityl < di(3,5-tert-butyl)phenyl < di(2,6-dodecyloxy)phenyl, improves the thin film conductivity by several orders of magnitude. Density functional theory and gel permeation chromatography, correlate this improvement to changes in the intermolecular distances and molecular geometry. Furthermore, the oCVD of porphyrins with free ortho-phenyl positions causes intramolecular dehydrogenative side reactions inducing a complete planarization of the molecule. This molecular flattening drastically affects the π–π stacking between the porphyrins further enhancing the electronic properties of the films.

This work reports the strong correlation between the conductivity of fused porphyrins thin films and the porphyrin substituents.

Renaissance of Fused Porphyrins: Substituted Methylene-Bridged Thiophene-Fused Strategy for High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Over the last decades, porphyrin sensitizers have made a remarkable contribution to performance improvement in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In particular, versatile push-pull-type porphyrin sensitizers have achieved power conversion efficiencies (η) over 10% as a result of their improved light-harvesting abilities. Meanwhile, aromatic ring fusion to a porphyrin core is an attractive option for highly efficient DSSCs because of its expanded π-conjugation and resultant red-shifted absorption. Nevertheless, aromatic-fused porphyrin sensitizers have suffered rather low cell performances due to their mismatch of HOMO-LUMO levels, high aggregation tendency, and short lifetime of the excited states. Bearing these in mind, we envisioned that the fusion of substituted methylene-bridged small aromatic ring to a porphyrin core would overcome these drawbacks, boosting the cell performance. Herein, we report a series of substituted methylene-bridged thiophene-fused porphyrins, AfZnP, DfZnP, and DfZnP- iPr. After optimization, DSSC with the donor-side thiophene-fused DfZnP- iPr achieved an η-value of 10.1%, which is comparable to that of DSSC with GY50 (10.0%), a representative high-performance push-pull-type porphyrin sensitizer. More importantly, cosensitization of DfZnP- iPr with a complementary sensitizer LEG4 further led to an η-value of 10.7%, which is the highest value ever reported for DSSCs with fused porphyrin sensitizers. Therefore, our strategy will reboot the exploration of aromatic-fused porphyrin sensitizers for high-performance DSSCs.

Chlorine (Cl) - Substituted Carbazole Based A-π-D-π-a Push-Pull Chromophores as Aggregation Enhanced Emission (AEE) Active Viscosity Sensors: Synthesis, DFT and NLO Approach

Three new carbazole functionalized A-π-D-π-A extended chromophores 4a, 4b and 4c comprising of different chemical functional groups on C=C bond with the assistance of chlorovinylene group in π-conjugation are synthesized and investigated spectroscopically. We have investigated the effect of different electron acceptors - carboxycyanomethylene, dicyanomethylene and 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl) cyanomethylene, the effect of the insertion of chlorine in π-conjugation on photophysical properties and the effect of double acceptors. The chromophores 4a, 4b and 4c exhibited positive solvatochromism with large Stokes shifts and bright orange to red solid-state fluorescence. Amongst all the three compounds 4c exhibited maximum emission wavelength at 615 nm in DMSO. They presented characteristic twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) emission. Observations exhibited that 4c containing long hexyl group in donor unit and 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl) cyanomethylene as an acceptor group formed an aggregate in the mixture of solvents and exhibited better aggregation enhanced emission (AEE) compared to the other two derivatives. Amongst the three styryls, 4c showed the highest emission intensity 299 a.u. at 90% water:DMF fraction (f_w). Chromophores 4a-4c also exhibited good fluorescence response towards viscosity. Among the three fluorescent molecular rotors (FMR), 4c exhibited excellent viscosity sensitivity with x value = 0.687. The Non-linear (NLO) characters are estimated with the help of solvatochromic and computational methods using the functionals, B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP. The dyes showed large "linear polarizability (α_CT)", "first order hyperpolarizability" (β) and "second order hyperpolarizability" (γ) values which show that synthesized styryls can be used as a "NLO" material. The α_CT, β and γ for 4c are found to be the maximum amongst the all three dyes which can be ascribed to the smaller band gap apparent from experimental as well as DFT method.

Theoretical study of the substrate and molecular density effects on molecular self-assembly

This work is aiming at theoretically exploring the substrate and molecular density effects on molecular self-assembly.

Synthesis and electronic properties of π-expanded carbazole-based porphyrins

Peripheral π-expansion of carbazole-based porphyrins was achieved for the first time by the Pt-catalyzed cyclization and the incorporation of a benzocarbazole unit.

Push-Pull Zinc Porphyrins as Light-Harvesters for Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been attractive to scientific community due to its eco-friendliness, ease of fabrication, and vivid colorful property etc. Among various kinds of sensitizers, such as metal-free organic molecules, metal-complex, natural dyes etc., porphyrin is one of the most promising sensitizers for DSSC. The first application of porphyrin for sensitization of nanocrystaline TiO2 can be traced back to 1993 by using [tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrinato] zinc(II) with an overall conversion efficiency of 2.6%. After 10 years efforts, Officer and Grätzel improved this value to 7.1%. Later in 2009, by constructing porphyrin sensitizer with an arylamine as donor and a benzoic acid as acceptor, Diau and Yeh demonstrated that this donor-acceptor framwork porphyrins could attain remarkable photovoltaic performance. Now the highest efficiencies of DSSC are dominated by donor-acceptor porphyrins, reaching remarkable values around 13.0% with cobalt-based electrolytes. This achievement is largely contributed by the structural development of donor and acceptor groups within push-pull framwork. In this review, we summarized and discussed the developement of donor-acceptor porphyrin sensitizers and their applications in DSSC. A dicussion of the correlation between molecular structure and the spectral and photovoltaic properties is the major target of this review. Deeply dicussion of the substitution group, especially on porphyrin's meso-position were presented. Furthermore, the limitations of DSSC for commercialization, such as the long-term stability, sophisticated synthesis procedures for high efficiency dye etc., have also been discussed.

Synthesis of Triply Fused Porphyrin-Nanographene Conjugates

Two unprecedented porphyrin fused nanographene molecules, 1 and 2, have been synthesized by the Scholl reaction from tailor-made precursors based on benzo[m]tetraphene-substituted porphyrins. The chemical structures were validated by a combination of high-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HR MALDI-TOF MS), IR and Raman spectroscopy, and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The UV-vis-near infrared absorption spectroscopy of 1 and 2 demonstrated broad and largely red-shifted absorption spectra extending up to 1000 and 1400 nm, respectively, marking the significant extension of the π-conjugated systems.

Porphyrin-sensitized solar cells: systematic molecular optimization, coadsorption and cosensitization

As a promising low-cost solar energy conversion technique, dye-sensitized solar cells have undergone spectacular development since 1991. For practical applications, improvement of power conversion efficiency has always been one of the major research topics. Porphyrins are outstanding sensitizers endowed with strong sunlight harvesting ability in the visible region and multiple reaction sites available for functionalization. However, judicious molecular design in consideration of light-harvest, energy levels, operational dynamics, adsorption geometry and suppression of back reactions is specifically required for achieving excellent photovoltaic performance. This feature article highlights some of the recently developed porphyrin sensitizers, especially focusing on the systematic dye structure optimization approach in combination with coadsorption and cosensitization methods in pursuing higher efficiencies. Herein, we expect to provide more insights into the structure-performance correlation and molecular engineering strategies in a stepwise manner.

Probing energy losses from dye desorption in cobalt complex-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Self-assembly of organic sensitizer layers in cobalt complex-based DSCs was studied to elucidate its role in reducing the loss of charge recombination. DSCs with various dye loadings were fabricated by dye desorption without the aid of basic solvent. The FT-IR and UV results indicate the deprotonation of the anchoring organic sensitizers, which influences the conduction band of TiO₂ remarkably by changing the surface potential. Positive band edge shifts and a decrease of the recombination rate constant are demonstrated to be the main factors affecting energy loss at open circuit. In contrast, absorbed photon conversion efficiency (APCE) analyses illuminate the crucial role of the packing of the anchoring sensitizer in reducing recombination loss at short circuit. This is further supported by numerical simulations, which show that APCE is primarily dependent on the recombination rate constant rather than the band edge shift at short circuit. These results highlight the importance of self-assembly of sensitizers with insulating groups in retarding charge recombination by forming overlapping molecular layers.

Near-Infrared-Absorbing Metal-Free Organic, Porphyrin, and Phthalocyanine Sensitizers for Panchromatic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are a promising source of renewable energy. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of devices has been limited largely by the difficulty of producing electricity using photons from the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. Metal-free organic sensitizers frequently employ strong electron-donating or -withdrawing moieties to tune the optical band gap to allow the absorption of lower energy wavelengths in charge-transfer systems, whereas porphyrins and phthalocyanines use substituents to shift the Soret and Q bands toward lower energy absorption. Very few devices employing precious metal-free dyes have achieved panchromatic and NIR photon conversion for electricity generation at wavelengths >750 nm despite a tremendous number of sensitizers published over the last 25 years. This Minireview seeks to compile a summary of these sensitizers to encourage assimilation, analysis, and development of efficient future sensitizers with absorption extending into the NIR. Herein, we discuss common synthetic strategies, optical properties, and electronic properties of the most successful panchromatic organic sensitizers.

Zinc(II) Metalated Porphyrins as Photothermogenic Photosensitizers for Cancer Photodynamic/Photothermal Synergistic Therapy

Porphyrin derivatives are the first-generation photosensitizers, and to design a strong near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing porphyrin with good water solubility is highly desired for better therapeutic effect to treat tumors. Herein, three new porphyrin derivatives, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) porphyrin (P1), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) zinc porphyrin (ZnP1), and 5,15-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-10,20-bis((4-methoxyphenyl)ethynyl) zinc porphyrin (ZnP2) have been synthesized. Among them, ZnP2 shows the longest and most intensive Q-bands in the near-infrared (NIR) region, as it endows the strongest light-harvesting capability and deepest tumor tissue penetration. The three porphyrin derivatives were prepared into nanoparticles (NPs) via nanoprecipitation method, and the NPs exhibit good water dispersibility and passive tumor-targeting property through enhanced permeability and retention effect. Furthermore, these NPs demonstrate both photodynamic and photothermal effects. Through a systematic study of the singlet oxygen quantum yield and cytotoxicity of P1, ZnP1, and ZnP2 NPs in vitro on Hela cells, it is found that ZnP2 shows the highest singlet oxygen quantum yield (79%), and its NPs show the best therapeutic efficacy in vitro. In vivo experiments disclosed that ZnP2 NPs present high phototoxicity, low dark toxicity, and excellent biocompatibility, and could be used as promising photothermogenic photosensitizer for cancer treatment.

The effect of co-sensitization methods between N719 and boron dipyrromethene triads on dye-sensitized solar cell performance

A boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) featuring triphenylamine triad, BD, has been synthesized as a co-sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The optical and electrochemical properties of BD have been characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. DSCs containing co-sensitizers, N719 and BD, have been prepared in two procedures using co-deposition and stepwise deposition. The influences of the staining processes, co-deposition and stepwise deposition on dye loading, dye dispersion on a TiO₂ photoanode and DSC performance have been investigated using FTIR, SEM-EDS, I–V test and IPCE measurement, respectively. We found that stepwise co-sensitization provided higher solar cell efficiency, compared to those stained with a co-deposition method. N719/5% BD showed the highest power conversion efficiency of 5.14%. Interestingly, the enhanced device efficiency was 66% higher than that of a device containing the single N719 dye.

BODIPY triad, BD, was prepared as co-sensitizer. The stepwise sensitization method exhibited higher PCE, compared to the co-deposition method.

Structurally Simple and Easily Accessible Perylenes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Applicable to Both 1 Sun and Dim-Light Environments

The need for low-cost and highly efficient dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells under both the sunlight and dim light environments is growing. We have devised GJ-series push-pull organic dyes which require only four synthesis steps. These dyes feature a linear molecular structure of donor-perylene-ethynylene-arylcarboxylic acid, where donor represents N,N-diarylamino group and arylcarboxylic groups represent benzoic, thienocarboxylic, 2-cyano-3-phenylacrylic, 2-cyano-3-thienoacrylic, and 4-benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazol-4-yl-benzoic groups. In this study, we demonstrated that a dye without tedious and time-consuming synthesis efforts can perform efficiently. Under the illumination of AM1.5G simulated sunlight, the benzothiadiazole-benzoic-containing GJ-BP dye shows the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.16% with V_OC of 0.70 V and J_SC of 11.88 mA cm^-2 using liquid iodide-based electrolyte. It also shows high performance in converting light of 6000 lx light intensity, that is, incident power of ca. 1.75 mW cm^-2, to power output of 0.28 mW cm^-2 which equals a PCE of 15.79%. Interestingly, the benzoic-containing dye GJ-P with a simple molecular structure has comparable performance in generating power output of 0.26 mW cm^-2 (PCE of 15.01%) under the same condition and is potentially viable toward future application.

Tetraphenylethylene- and fluorene-functionalized near-infrared aza-BODIPY dyes for living cell imaging

The new NIR absorbing aza-BODIPY dyes bearing tetraphenylethylene and fluorinyl substituents were synthesized and characterized. The application potential of these new dyes in living cell imaging was demonstrated.

Bandgap Engineering in π-Extended Pyrroles. A Modular Approach to Electron-Deficient Chromophores with Multi-Redox Activity

A family of bandgap-tunable pyrroles structurally related to rylene dyes was computationally designed and prepared using robust, easily scalable chemistry. These pyrroles show highly variable fluorescence properties and can be used as building blocks for the synthesis of electron-deficient oligopyrroles. The latter application is demonstrated through the development of π-extended porphyrins containing naphthalenediamide or naphthalenediimide units. These new macrocycles exhibit simultaneously tunable visible and near-IR absorptions, an ability to accept up to 8 electrons via electrochemical reduction, and high internal molecular free volumes. When chemically reduced under inert conditions, the most electron-deficient of these macrocycles revealed reversible formation of eight charged states, characterized by remarkably red-shifted optical absorptions, extending beyond 2200 nm. Such features make these oligopyrroles of interest as functional chromophores, charge-storage materials, and tectons for crystal engineering.

Enhancement of Light Absorption Ability of Synthetic Chlorophyll Derivatives by Conjugation with a Difluoroboron Diketonate Group

The enhancement of the light absorption ability of synthetic chlorophyll derivatives is demonstrated. Chlorophyll derivatives directly conjugated with a difluoroboron 1,3-diketonate group at the C3 position were synthesized from methyl pyropheophorbide-d through Barbier acylmethylation of the C3-formyl moiety, oxidation of the C3-carbinol, and difluoroboron complexation of the diketonate. Electronic absorption spectra in a diluted solution showed that the synthetic conjugates gave an absorption band at λ=400-500 nm, with a Qy band shifted to a longer wavelength of λ≈700 nm. DFT calculations demonstrated that the absorption bands and redshifts were ascribable to the coupling of the LUMO of chlorin with that of the difluoroboron diketonate moiety. The introduction of a pyrenyl group at the C3(3) -position of the conjugate afforded an additional charge-transfer band over λ=500 nm, producing a pigment that bridged the green gap in standard chlorophylls.

Heterocyclic Nanographenes and Other Polycyclic Heteroaromatic Compounds: Synthetic Routes, Properties, and Applications

Two-dimensionally extended, polycyclic heteroaromatic molecules (heterocyclic nanographenes) are a highly versatile class of organic materials, applicable as functional chromophores and organic semiconductors. In this Review, we discuss the rich chemistry of large heteroaromatics, focusing on their synthesis, electronic properties, and applications in materials science. This Review summarizes the historical development and current state of the art in this rapidly expanding field of research, which has become one of the key exploration areas of modern heterocyclic chemistry.

A quinoidal bis-phenalenyl-fused porphyrin with supramolecular organization and broad near-infrared absorption

A concise synthesis is disclosed for a quinoidal bis-phenalenyl-fused porphyrin that displays near-infrared absorption and supramolecular organization in the solid state.

Push–pull type alkoxy-wrapped N-annulated perylenes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Three push–pull type, alkoxy-wrapped N-annulated perylene based sensitizers were synthesized and power conversion efficiency up to 8.38% was achieved.

Artificial hemes for DSSC and/or BHJ applications

In this review paper a summary of our studies is presented concerning the power conversion efficiency of DSSC and BHJ based on porphyrin hybrid materials.

Synthesis of a peripherally conjugated 5-6-7 nanographene

Expansion of heteroaromatic nanographenes via 5-6-7 fusion enhances their NIR absorption and emission properties.

A heteroaromatic nanographene containing a unique assembly of five-, six- and seven-membered rings is synthesized using oxidative coupling of an indole-containing precursor. Near-infrared absorption and emission properties of the nanographene core are enhanced by peripheral expansion and ring fusion at all oxidation levels. The dicationic state shows distinct aromaticity originating from a peripheral π-conjugated circuit. A partially coupled intermediate, trapped in the synthesis of the 5-6-7 nanographene, is explored as a reference system, showing an unexpected reduction of the optical band gap due to intramolecular charge transfer.

Porphyrins as excellent dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: recent developments and insights

Porphyrin sensitizers have exhibited power conversion efficiencies that are comparable to or even higher than those of well-established highly efficient DSSCs based on ruthenium complexes.

Unsymmetrically functionalized benzoporphyrins

Unsymmetrical push–pull benzoporphyrins were synthesized, displaying subtle substituent effects on the electronic and optical properties.

Saddle-shaped porphyrins for dye-sensitized solar cells: new insight into the relationship between nonplanarity and photovoltaic properties

We report on the theoretical and experimental studies of the new dye-sensitized solar cells functionalized with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin zinc(ii) complexes bearing 2- and 8-bromo substituents at the β positions.

Pyrene fused perylene diimides: synthesis, characterization and applications in organic field-effect transistors and optical limiting with high performance

Pyrene fused PDI derivatives are unprecedentedly designed, with the bilateral one possessing a high mobility up to 1.13 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.

A near-infrared dithieno[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine-based organic co-sensitizer for highly efficient and stable quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel near-infrared (NIR) organic sensitizer FNE53 with a strong electron-withdrawing unit, dithieno[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine, has been designed and synthesized for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By simply fusing the two thiophene rings on quinoxaline unit in sensitizer FNE48, the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) band bathochromically shifts from 542 nm for FNE48 to 629 nm for FNE53 in toluene solution. The absorption spectrum of sensitizer FNE53 covers the whole visible region and extends to the NIR region, which exhibits complementary absorption profile to another organic dye FNE46 based on quinoxaline. When FNE46 and FNE53 are used as cosensitizers for metal-free cocktail-type quasi-solid-state DSSCs, sensitizer FNE53 not only extends the photoresponse range but also suppresses the intermolecular interactions among the dye molecules. Therefore, the cocktail-type quasi-solid-state DSSC displays much higher IPCE value compared with that for the DSSC sensitizer based on FNE53 and a broader IPCE response in comparison to that for the DSSC sensitizers based on FNE46, respectively. After the molar ratio between the two cocktail dyes is optimized, the highest energy conversion efficiency of 8.04% is achieved in a metal-free quasi-solid-state DSSC cosensitized with FNE46 and FNE53, which exhibits good long-term stability after continuous light soaking for 1000 h.

Optoelectronics of organic nanofibers formed by co-assembly of porphyrin and perylenediimide

Organic nanofibers are formed by simple ionic co-assembly of positively charged porphyrin (electron donor) and negatively charged perylenediimide (electron acceptor) derivatives in aqueous solution. Two kinds of electron transfer routes between electron donor and electron acceptor under light excitation in nanofibers are confirmed by DFT calculations and experimental data.

Strategy to improve photovoltaic performance of DSSC sensitized by zinc prophyrin using salicylic acid as a tridentate anchoring group

Three new zinc porphyrin dyes attached to ethynyl benzoic acid as an electron transmission and anchoring group have been designed, synthesized, and well-characterized. The performances of their sensitized solar cells have been investigated by optical, photovoltaic, and electrochemical methods. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cells sensitized by the dye with salicylic acid as an anchoring group demonstrated obvious enhancement when compared with that sensitized by the dye with carboxylic acid as an anchoring group. The density functional theory calculations and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopies revealed that tridentate binding modes could increase the efficiency of electron injection from dyes to the TiO2 nanoparticles by more electron pathways.

First synthesis of meso-substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalinoporphyrins

A synthetic protocol for the construction of new meso-substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalinoporphyrins is described starting from 5-(4-amino-3-nitrophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin. The reaction of this porphyrin with 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran, followed by the reduction of the nitro group in the presence of NiCl₂/NaBH₄ afforded 5-(3-amino-4-(pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin. This triphenylporphyrin underwent a Pictet–Spengler cyclization after the reaction with various aromatic aldehydes followed by in situ KMnO₄ oxidation to form target porphyrin analogues in good yields. The structures of all synthesized products were established on the basis of spectral data and elemental analyses.