Synthesis of a novel family of porphyrin with triphenylamine donor groups to be applied in dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The solar cells of third generation, which can be classified in hybrids and organics, are the target of uncountable studies and developments along the last few years. These cells present low fabrication cost, flexibility, lightness, and stability. In this work two new Zinc-porphyrin 1a and 1b, bearing triphenylamine donor groups were synthesized and their efficiencies measured in nanocrystalline TiO 2 dye sensitized solar cells employing iodide/tri-iodide and tris(1,10-phenanthroline) cobalt electrolytes. Optimized sensitization time for the TiO 2 photoanode was found to depend on the electrolyte employed: devices based on iodide/tri-iodide showed better efficiencies with shorter sensitization times (1.5 hours) whereas those based on tris(1,10-phenanthroline) cobalt showed better efficiencies with longer sensitization times (6 hours). From UV-Vis absorption spectra it is estimated that there is roughly twice as much dye loaded onto the TiO 2 film sensitized for 6 hours compared to the 1.5 hour film.