As we realize there is a limit to our resources and fossil fuels, researchers around the world are now turning to renewable and sustainable sources. One area in particular is solar energy - a renewable energy source that holds great promise. Scientists have recently paid special attention to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as an alternative to conventional solar cells because of their potential low-cost assembly processes, semi-transparency, and wide range of accessible dye materials. The objective of this research was to not only find important ways to use renewable energy resources, but also to extract this energy with renewable and sustainable materials. Traditionally, materials for use in DSSCs focus on those with a thiophene-based organic dye. Our current efforts focus on incorporating a furan-based molecule in place of the thiophene group that can be derived from renewable and sustainable synthetic resources. The synthesis of furan containing organic dyes can be carried out by performing a direct arylation reaction of 4-bromo-N,N-diethylaniline and furfural. This reaction utilizes palladium (II) catalytic systems of palladium acetate or Hermann's catalyst with phosphine ligands. The resulting aldehyde can be functionalized by a Knoevenagel condensation reaction with cyanoacetic acid to yield a dye that binds with TiO2in a DSSC. These synthetic procedures use many �green� chemistry methods with promising reaction yields.

Furfural as a building block for organic dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells

247th National Meeting (2014)

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