Issue 80, 2014

Approach to tune short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of dye-sensitized solar cells: π-linker modification and photoanode selection

Abstract

The modification of π-linkers represents a viable strategy to improve the performance of organic dye in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). On the basis of the π-linker modification, four cyclic thiourea functionalized dyes (AZ260, AZ261, AZ262, and AZ263) were synthesized and their effects on the short-circuit current density (Jsc) and open-circuit voltage (Voc) were investigated. The results showed that AZ261 bearing an n-hexyl chain on the π-linker generated higher Jsc (16.02 mA cm−2) and Voc (739.4 mV) than AZ6 without a substituent on the bithiophene (Jsc = 15.89 mA cm−2, Voc = 729.2 mV, PCE = 7.20%), and a higher PCE of 7.42% was obtained from AZ261. Furthermore, insertion of a double-bond into the π-linker (AZ263) yielded the highest Jsc (17.83 mA cm−2) with a somewhat lower Voc (719.2 mV), and delivered the highest PCE up to 8.24%. In addition, the function of mesoporous spherical TiO2 on the photoanodes were also systematically examined and proven to be beneficial in increasing the Jsc.

Graphical abstract: Approach to tune short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of dye-sensitized solar cells: π-linker modification and photoanode selection

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Jun 2014
Accepted
12 Aug 2014
First published
13 Aug 2014

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 42252-42259

Author version available

Approach to tune short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of dye-sensitized solar cells: π-linker modification and photoanode selection

S. Zhu, Z. An, X. Chen, P. Chen and Q. Liu, RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 42252 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA07967A

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