TY - JOUR
T1 - Unravelling the potential for dithienopyrrole sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells
AU - Polander, Lauren E.
AU - Yella, Aswani
AU - Teuscher, Joël
AU - Humphry-Baker, Robin
AU - Curchod, Basile F E
AU - Ashari Astani, Negar
AU - Gao, Peng
AU - Moser, Jacques E.
AU - Tavernelli, Ivano
AU - Rothlisberger, Ursula
AU - Grätzel, Michael
AU - Nazeeruddin, Md Khaja
AU - Frey, Julien
PY - 2013/7/9
Y1 - 2013/7/9
N2 - Two D-π-A dyes based on the dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole π-bridge (DTP) were synthesized, characterized using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electrochemistry, modeled using quantum chemical calculations, and used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The photoelectrochemical properties and DSC performance are thoroughly compared with their cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b′]dithiophene (CPDT) analogues. The use of DTP results in a small increase in the zero-zero transition energy reflecting the higher lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital that is commonly reported for DTP relative to CPDT systems. This increased optical gap manifests in slightly blue-shifted incident photon-to-collected electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) responses; however, increased open-circuit photovoltage values and improved charge-transfer kinetics relative to the CPDT systems result in comparable power conversion efficiencies. The present report highlights the potential of DTP for the development of tailored sensitizers employing stronger acceptors.
AB - Two D-π-A dyes based on the dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole π-bridge (DTP) were synthesized, characterized using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electrochemistry, modeled using quantum chemical calculations, and used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The photoelectrochemical properties and DSC performance are thoroughly compared with their cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b′]dithiophene (CPDT) analogues. The use of DTP results in a small increase in the zero-zero transition energy reflecting the higher lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital that is commonly reported for DTP relative to CPDT systems. This increased optical gap manifests in slightly blue-shifted incident photon-to-collected electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) responses; however, increased open-circuit photovoltage values and improved charge-transfer kinetics relative to the CPDT systems result in comparable power conversion efficiencies. The present report highlights the potential of DTP for the development of tailored sensitizers employing stronger acceptors.
KW - D-π-A
KW - dithienopyrrole
KW - dye-sensitized solar cells
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880027865&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/cm401144j
DO - 10.1021/cm401144j
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
AN - SCOPUS:84880027865
VL - 25
SP - 2642
EP - 2648
JO - Chemistry of Materials
JF - Chemistry of Materials
SN - 0897-4756
IS - 13
ER -