An element of surprise—efficient copper-functionalized dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells with carboxylate-derivatized {Cu(I)L(2)} complexes are surprisingly efficient and offer a long-term alternative approach to ruthenium-functionalized systems.

Homoleptic tetraazaphenanthrene-based copper(I) complexes: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, crystal structures and computational studies

“…Pioneering work toward elucidation of the unique photophysical and photochemical properties of [Cu I (N^N) 2 ] + complexes has been reported by McMillin and co-workers over the last 35 years [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Owing to the significant similarities in absorption spectra and photophysical behavior there have been recent attempt to replace Ru(II) with Cu(I) diimine complexes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) [16][17][18][19][20]. However, the efficiencies and stabilities of the devices based on [Cu I (N^N) 2 ] + dyes, to date, are still inferior when compared to those of the Ru(II) dye-based solar cells because the MLCT states of Cu(I) diimine complexes undergo pseudo Jahn-Teller distortions, with significant structural reorganization, that are solvent-dependent and so the 1 MLCT state lifetime can be influenced by the coordination geometry around Cu(I) center [20].…”

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Application of New Cobalt(II) Complex [Co(bpy)2NO3]·NO3·5H2O as Sensitizer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…Although, the most efficient cells have been obtained by using Ru-polypyridyl complexes as sensitizer dye, the research has been extended to other charge transfer complexes with other transition metals such as Fe(II), Cu(II), Re(I), Os(II), Pt(II), Co(II), etc. as potential sensitizers for DSSC owing to the complicated synthetic routes and high cost of these heavy metal complexes [15][16][17][18][19]. In this work, we have synthesized a mixed ligand complex of cobalt with 2,2'-bipyridine and nitrate as ligands.…”

A strong steric hindrance effect on ground state, excited state, and charge separated state properties of a CuI-diimine complex captured by X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy

“…Cu I diimine complexes, with similar light absorption to those of quintessential ruthenium complexes, have attracted much attention because of their potential applications in solar energy conversion [1][2][3][4][5] chemical sensing 6,7 and molecular devices. 8,9 Although these complexes have been studied for decades, studies in the past few years have focused on their functions that are aligned with those performed by Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes in solar energy conversion.…”

“…An analogous method in the X-ray regime, X-ray transient absorption (XTA) spectroscopy, is used to track electron configurations and the corresponding molecular structural changes of [Cu I (dppS) 2 ] + by measuring the transient X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). 17,19,22,23,25,[30][31][32][33][34] We would like to answer the following questions: (1) what are the structures of the MLCT state and charge separated state structures; (2) what are the structural changes of the complex when it binds to TiO 2 nanoparticles; and (3) what we can learn from our study on Cu I diimine complex design for its applications in solar energy conversion? Understanding the molecular structures and dynamics of both photoexcited states and charge separated intermediates in the current system will not only provide guidance by revealing their practical applications in dye sensitized solar cells but also an insight into the nature of photochemical reactions.…”