Optical and electrical properties of purpurin and alizarin complexone as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The optical and electrical properties of two dyes purpurin (1,2,4-trihydroxy-9, 10-anthracenedione) and alizarin complexone (alizarin-3-methylimino-N,N-diacetic acid) as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells were investigated by using UV-Vis spectrum, FT-IR spectrum, cyclic voltammetry and I-V (current-voltage) characteristics. In addition, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was adopted to research the electrons transfer process between each interface of the dye-sensitized solar cell. For comparison with the experiments, the frontier molecular orbitals, vibration analysis, the total static first hyperpolarizability and driving force of electron injection were calculated by using density functional theory (DFT) with B3LYP, at 6-31G(d) basis set. Moreover, the transition properties were investigated by using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) with PBEPBE functional at 6-311?G(d,p) basis set in theory. The solvent effect and basis set effect were taken into consideration to investigate the excited state properties of the dyes. The results showed that alizarin complexone had a higher energy conversion efficiency of 0.27 % than that of purpurin (0.13 %), with higher open circuit voltage (V oc ) of 0.45 V, higher short circuit current density (I sc ) of 0.89 mA cm -2 and higher fill factor (ff) of 0.67, indicating that the photovoltaic characteristics of alizarin excelled that of purpurin.

The Effect of Dye and Pigment Concentrations on the Diameter of Melt-Electrospun Polylactic Acid Fibers

“…However, colorants are not only aesthetic—they can also offer other functionalities, such as better conductivity. For example, the organic semiconductor pigment copper phthalocyanine and dyes such as alizarin have been used for the development of solar cells, but are also suitable as colorants for textiles [ 36 , 37 ]. The π-conjugation present in these colorants is not only responsible for their color, it also improves their electrical conductivity, and it can lead to a charge carrier mobility exceeding 1 cm 2 /Vs [ 38 ].…”

Biobased Dyes as Conductive Additives to Reduce the Diameter of Polylactic Acid Fibers during Melt Electrospinning

“…Common organic textile dyes include alizarin and curcuma, whereas common pigments include copper phthalocyanine and carbon black [36]. Colorants such as alizarin, purpurin and phthalocyanine have already been used to manufacture electronics such as field effect transistors and dye-sensitized solar cells [37] because the presence of functional groups and/or π-conjugation improves conductivity, and charge carrier mobility may exceed 1 cm 2 /Vs [38].…”

“…Common organic textile dyes include alizarin and curcuma, whereas common pigments include copper phthalocyanine and carbon black [36]. Colorants such as alizarin, purpurin and phthalocyanine have already been used to manufacture electronics such as field effect transistors and dye-sensitized solar cells [37] because the presence of functional groups and/or π-conjugation improves conductivity, and charge carrier mobility may exceed 1 cm 2 /Vs [38]. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of three biobased dyes to increase the conductivity of molten PLA during melt electrospinning, combined with a biobased plasticizer to reduce melt viscosity for an overall reduction of the obtained fiber diameters.…”

New Analytical Methodology for Sb(III) Traces Quantification as Emergent Contaminant in Drinks Packaged PET Samples by Solid Surface Fluorescence

“…Anthraquinones are the largest group of natural quinones and are the basis of a variety of natural colorants. Az is a mordant type dye and due to the α-OH group can react with metal ions forming complexes whose color vary with the cation nature and work conditions [26] [27].…”