Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are of particular interest nowadays due to their promising potential for solar energy conversion. In the most ideal scenario both environmentally and economically, water is used as the electrolyte solvent in DSSC devices. However, the switch from organic to aqueous electrolytes does not come without challenges, namely, dye desorption from the semiconductor surface via hydrolysis of anchoring groups and degradation of the semiconductor itself. Recently, our group introduced a series of organic donor-acceptor dyes, the BH dye series, which exhibited excellent photocathode stability in harsh (pH 0) aqueous conditions due to the creation of a hydrophobic “canopy” protection layer over the anchoring group and semiconductor by the dyes’ 3-hexyloligothiophene π-linker. While the highly hydrophobic nature of the BH dyes offer superior protection, it is hypothesized that, especially in aqueous electrolytes, they do not allow complete wetting of the highly porous sensitized semiconductor film, which in turn, decreases the surface area of the crucial dye-electrolyte interface, and ultimately leads to reduced photocurrents. Herein, a new dye, AC2, is introduced which targets the issues of film wettability and facilitates dye-electrolyte interaction via the incorporation of hydrophilic aryl methyl ether moieties while still offering protection against desorption closer to the anchor-semiconductor surface by the hydrophobic π-linker. While modification of the BH dye presents several synthetic challenges, it has the potential to provide a framework for future highly efficient dyes.

Design and synthesis of novel perylenemonoimide dyes for solar energy conversion devices

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.