Multiple linker half-squarylium dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells; are two linkers better than one?

Connell, A., Holliman, P. J., Jones, E. W., Furnell, L., Kershaw, C., Davies, M. L., Gwenin, C. D., Pitak, M. B., Coles, S. J. and Cooke, G. (2015) Multiple linker half-squarylium dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells; are two linkers better than one? Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 3(6), pp. 2883-2894. (doi: 10.1039/c4ta06896c)

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Abstract

The synthesis and full characterization of new half-squaraine dyes (Hf-SQ) containing two or three carboxylate-based linker units is reported and these dyes tested in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) devices. The data show improved device efficiency for a Hf-SQ dye with two linkers (η = 5.5%) compared to the highest efficiency Hf-SQ previously reported which had only a single linker (η = 5.0%); this is mainly due to improved Voc. To understand the effects of using multiple dye linker groups, device I–V data have been correlated with single crystal X-ray structural analysis and dye electrical properties (both in solution and adsorbed to TiO2) using UV-visible and ATR-IR spectroscopy along with cyclic voltammetry, and also theoretical studies using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These data show that positioning the linkers near the dye LUMO and so that this enables complete linker chemisorption are key factors for device performance.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cooke, Professor Graeme
Authors: Connell, A., Holliman, P. J., Jones, E. W., Furnell, L., Kershaw, C., Davies, M. L., Gwenin, C. D., Pitak, M. B., Coles, S. J., and Cooke, G.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Publisher:Royal Society of Chemistry
ISSN:2050-7488
ISSN (Online):2050-7496
Published Online:16 December 2014
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Royal Society of Chemistry
First Published:First published in Journal of Materials Chemistry A 3(6):2883-2894
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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