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Franchi D, Leandri V, Pizzichetti AR, Xu B, Hao Y, Zhang W, Sloboda T, Svanström S, Cappel UB, Kloo L, Sun L, Gardner JM. Effect of the Ancillary Ligand on the Performance of Heteroleptic Cu(I) Diimine Complexes as Dyes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS 2022; 5:1460-1470. [PMID: 35252772 PMCID: PMC8889538 DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.1c02778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A series of heteroleptic Cu(I) diimine complexes with different ancillary ligands and 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dibenzoic acid (dbda) as the anchoring ligand were self-assembled on TiO2 surfaces and used as dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The binding to the TiO2 surface was studied by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for a bromine-containing complex, confirming the complex formation. The performance of all complexes was assessed and rationalized on the basis of their respective ancillary ligand. The DSSC photocurrent-voltage characteristics, incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra, and calculated lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) distributions collectively show a push-pull structural dye design, in which the ancillary ligand exhibits an electron-donating effect that can lead to improved solar cell performance. By analyzing the optical properties of the dyes and their solar cell performance, we can conclude that the presence of ancillary ligands with bulky substituents protects the Cu(I) metal center from solvent coordination constituting a critical factor in the design of efficient Cu(I)-based dyes. Moreover, we have identified some components in the I-/I3 --based electrolyte that causes dissociation of the ancillary ligand, i.e., TiO2 photoelectrode bleaching. Finally, the detailed studies on one of the dyes revealed an electrolyte-dye interaction, leading to a dramatic change of the dye properties when adsorbed on the TiO2 surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Franchi
- Institute
of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Valentina Leandri
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Angela Raffaella
Pia Pizzichetti
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bo Xu
- Division
of Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department of
Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yan Hao
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wei Zhang
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tamara Sloboda
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Svanström
- Division
of X-ray Photon Science, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box
516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ute B. Cappel
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Kloo
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Licheng Sun
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of
Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels, School of Science, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - James M. Gardner
- Division
of Applied Physical Chemistry, Centre of Molecular Devices, Department
of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
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Design and synthesis of organic sensitizers with enhanced anchoring stability in dye-sensitized solar cells. PURE APPL CHEM 2017. [DOI: 10.1515/pac-2017-0403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
D-π-A dyes have received a special attention in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this kind of molecules, the acceptor group (A) generally acts as an anchor, enabling the adsorption of the dye onto the metal oxide substrate (TiO2) and providing a good electron injection. The search for new anchors represents a critical factor for the development of improved DSSCs and in recent years has been a very active research field. This mini-review focuses especially on our work on pyridine-derived anchoring groups for D-π-A dyes, with a special regard on the preparation and characterization of three different families of dyes and a critical evaluation of their stability and efficiency.
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