This paper describes the synthesis of a new, yellow triphenylamine dye, 4-[2-(4-diphenylaminophenyl) vinyl]benzoic acid] (6), with a sorption maximum at 380 nm in solution for which EQE data show shifts to 420 nm on sorption to TiO 2 . The performance of this dye has been measured in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) devices, showing h ¼ 2.6% for 1 cm 2 devices. Light soaking of (6) shows excellent long-term stability with <10% variation in device performance over 1800 h. Full characterization data are reported for ( 6) and the intermediates used in its synthesis including single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of all compounds. The paper also describes the ultra-fast dye sensitization and co-sensitization of TiO 2 photo-electrodes in 5 minutes using one or two dyes and the first example of ultra-fast tri-sensitization. The dyes tested include the ruthenium dye N719, the squaraine dye SQ1, the red triphenylamine dye 2-cyano-3-{4-[2-(4-diphenylaminophenyl)vinyl]phenyl}acrylic acid ( 5) and ( 6). DSC efficiencies of 7.5% have been achieved for 1 cm 2 devices co-sensitized using (6) and N719. These efficiencies exceed those recorded for single dye devices and EQE measurements confirm efficient photon capture from two or more dyes in a single photo-electrode. Photo-acoustic calorimetry (PAC) has also been used to measure the energy of the charge separation states formed for (6) and N719, showing a larger value (1.47 eV) for (6) compared to N719 (1.08 eV), whilst a TiO 2 film co-sensitized with both (6) and N719 gave an intermediate value (1.28 eV). These data have been used to calculate dye HOMO, LUMO and l max levels for (6) and N719 leading to important insights for future successful co-sensitization.

Most organic dyes synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) use a single linker group to bind to the metal oxide photo-anode. Here we describe the synthesis and testing of two new triphenylamine dyes containing either two carboxylic acids 5-[2-(4-diphenylamino-phenyl)-vinyl]-isophthalic acid (10) or two cyanoacrylic acids (2Z, 2′Z)-3, 3′-(5-((E)-4-(diphenylamino) styryl)-1, 3-phenylene) bis (2-cyanoacrylic acid) (8) as linker groups. Full characterization data are reported for these dyes and their synthetic intermediates. DSC devices have been prepared from these new dyes either by passive or fast dyeing and the dyes have also been tested in co-sensitized DSC devices leading to a PCE (η = 5.4%) for the double cyanoacrylate linker dye (8) co-sensitized with D149. The dye:TiO2 surface interactions and dye excitations are interpreted using three modelling methods: density functional theory (at 0 K); molecular dynamics (at 298 K); time dependent density functional theory. The modelling results show the preferred orientation of both dyes on an anatase (1 0 1) TiO2 surface to be horizontal, and both the simulated and experimental absorption spectra of the dye molecules indicate a red shifted band for (8) compared to (10). This is in line with broader light harvesting and Jsc for (8) compared to (10).

No abstract

The aim of this research is to prepare some of metal oxides pastes to be used as semi-conductors electrode to manufacture of solar cells devices (third generation). The efficiency of these cells were tested by using these pastes to determine the response and susceptibility of these pastes for adsorbing of photosensitive pigments on their surfaces and pores, Three types of metal oxides such as Titanium oxide, Zinc oxide and Aluminium oxide, were prepared in this research. These pastes were identified by measuring UV-visible spectra and also by microscope instrument. The experiments which have been demonstrated approved the susceptibility and adsorption of these pastes to the photosensitive dyes on their surface and gave conversion efficiency up to 1.64%. In this research, a comparison was made between the pastes that were prepared in laboratory and the imported commercial paste in terms of efficiency.