Menzel JP, Boeije Y, Bakker TMA, Belić J, Reek JNH, de Groot HJM, Visscher L, Buda F. In Silico Optimization of Charge Separating Dyes for Solar Energy Conversion.
CHEMSUSCHEM 2022;
15:e202200594. [PMID:
35638151 PMCID:
PMC9546488 DOI:
10.1002/cssc.202200594]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells are promising devices in solar energy conversion. However, several limitations still have to be addressed, such as the major loss pathway through charge recombination at the dye-semiconductor interface. Charge separating dyes constructed as push-pull systems can increase the spatial separation of electron and hole, decreasing the recombination rate. Here, a family of dyes, consisting of polyphenylamine donors, fluorene bridges, and perylene monoimide acceptors, was investigated in silico using a combination of semi-empirical nuclear dynamics and a quantum propagation of photoexcited electron and hole. To optimize the charge separation, several molecular design strategies were investigated, including modifying the donor molecule, increasing the π-bridge length, and decoupling the molecular components through steric effects. The combination of a triphenylamine donor, using an extended 2-fluorene π-bridge, and decoupling the different components by steric hindrance from side groups resulted in a dye with significantly improved charge separation properties in comparison to the original supramolecular complex.
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