Cu(i)-I coordination polymers as the possible substitutes of lanthanides as downshifters for increasing the conversion efficiency of solar cells

Determining Factors to Understand the External Quantum Efficiency Values: Study Carried Out with Copper(I)-I and 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane Coordination Polymers as Downshifters in Photovoltaic Modules

Downshifters refer to compounds with the capacity to absorb UV photons and transform them into visible light. The integration of such downshifters has the potential to improve the efficiency of commercial photovoltaic modules. Initially, costly lanthanide derivatives and organic fluorescent dyes were introduced, resulting in a heightened module efficiency. In a novel research direction guided by the same physicochemical principles, the utilization of copper(I) coordination compounds is proposed. This choice is motivated by its simpler and more economical synthesis, primarily due to copper being a more abundant and less toxic element. Our proposal involves employing 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl) ethane (bpe), an economically viable commercial ligand, in conjunction with CuI to synthesize coordination polymers: [CuI(bpe)]n(1), [Cu3I3(bpe)3]n(2), and [CuI(bpe)0.5]n(3). These polymers exhibit the ability to absorb UV photons and emit light within the green and orange spectra. To conduct external quantum efficiency studies, the compounds are dispersed on glass and then encapsulated with ethylene vinyl acetate through heating to 150 °C. Interestingly, during these procedural steps, the solvents and temperatures employed induce a phase transformation, which has been thoroughly examined through both experimental analysis and theoretical calculations. The outcomes of these studies reveal an enhancement in external quantum efficiency with [Cu3I3(bpe)3]n(2), at a cost significantly lower (between 340 and 350 times) than that associated with lanthanide DS complexes.

2D Cu(I)-I Coordination Polymer with Smart Optoelectronic Properties and Photocatalytic Activity as a Versatile Multifunctional Material

This work presents two isostructural Cu(I)-I 2-fluoropyrazine (Fpyz) luminescent and semiconducting 2D coordination polymers (CPs). Hydrothermal synthesis allows the growth of P-1 space group single crystals, whereas solvent-free synthesis produces polycrystals. Via recrystallization in acetonitrile, P2₁ space group single crystals are obtained. Both show a reversible luminescent response to temperature and pressure. Structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 200 and 100 K allows us to understand their response as a function of temperature. Applying hydrostatic/uniaxial pressure or grinding also generates significant variations in their emission. The high structural flexibility of the Cu(I)-I chain is significantly linked to the corresponding alterations in structure. Remarkably, pressure can increase the conductivity by up to 3 orders of magnitude. Variations in resistivity are consistent with changes in the band gap energy. The experimental results are in agreement with the DFT calculations. These properties may allow the use of these CPs as optical pressure or temperature sensors. In addition, their behavior as a heterogeneous photocatalyst of persistent organic dyes has also been investigated.

Transition Metal Coordination Compounds as Novel Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a novel solar cell alternative characterized by lower toxicity by using coordination transition metal compounds while providing high performance benchmarks, such as power conversion efficiency. Particular attention should be paid to compounds containing Cu, which can act both as dyes and as redox mediators, even though compounds relying on other transition metals are also frequently reported. In this paper, examples of compounds containing transition metals in combination with several ligands are presented, and their basic photovoltaic parameters are given.

Multi-stimulus semiconductor Cu(i)–I-pyrimidine coordination polymer with thermo- and mechanochromic sensing

The 1D-[Cu(aClpym)I]n coordination polymer behaves as an intelligent material with response to different stimuli since its emission is altered with temperature and with varying modes of pressure, making it a potential multi-response material.

Cu(I)-I-2,4-diaminopyrimidine Coordination Polymers with Optoelectronic Properties as a Proof of Concept for Solar Cells

Two coordination polymers with formulas [CuI(dapym)]_n and [Cu₂I₂(dapym)]_n (dapym = 2,4-diaminopyrimidine) have been synthesized in water at room temperature. According to the stoichiometry used, mono (1D) and the two-dimensional (2D) structures can be obtained. Both are made up of Cu₂I₂ double chains. Their high insolubility in the reaction medium also makes it possible to obtain them on a nanometric scale. Their structural flexibility and short Cu-Cu distances provoke interesting optoelectronic properties and respond to physical stimuli such as pressure and temperature, making them interesting for sensor applications. The experimental and theoretical studies allow us to propose different emission mechanisms with different behaviors despite containing the same organic ligand. These behaviors are attributed to their structural differences. The emission spectra versus pressure and temperature suggest competencies between different transitions, founding critical Cu₂I₂ environments, i.e., symmetric in the 1D compound and asymmetric for the 2D one. The intensity in the 2D compound's emission increases with decreasing temperature, and this behavior can be rationalized with a structural constriction that decreases the Cu-Cu and Cu-I distances. However, compound 1D exhibits a contrary behavior that may be related to a change of the organic ligand's molecular configuration. These changes imply that a more significant Π-Π interaction counteracts the contraction in distances and angles when the temperature decreased. Also, the experimental conductivity measurements and theoretical calculations show a semiconductor behavior. The absorption of the 1D compound in UV, its intense emission at room temperature, and the reduction to nanometric size have allowed us to combine it homogeneously with ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), creating a new composite material. The external quantum efficiency of this material in a Si photovoltaic mini-module has shown that this compound is an active species with application in solar cells since it can move the photons of the incident radiation (UV region) to longer wavelengths.