title: Degradation of cyanoacrylic acid-based organic sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Organic dyes have become widely used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) because of their good performance, flexible structural modifications, and low costs. To increase the photostability of organic dye-based DSSCs, we conducted a full study on the degradation mechanism of cyanoacrylic acid-based organic sensitizers in DSSCs. The results showed that with the synergy between water and UV light, the sensitizer could desorb from the TiO2 surface and the cyanoacrylic acid unit of the sensitizer was transformed into the aldehyde group. It was also observed that the water content had a great effect on the degradation process. Our experiments conducted using (18) O-labeled water demonstrated that the oxygen atom of the aldehyde group identified in the degraded dye came from the solvent water in the DSSCs. Therefore, controlling the water content during DSSC fabrication, good sealing of cells, and filtering the UV light are crucial to produce DSSCs that are more durable and robust.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, PR China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xichuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Fuguo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Licheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D007455:Iodine / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012993:Solar Energy; D013696:Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D014867:Water; D007455:Iodine; C036658:acrylic acid
keywords: degradation; dyes/pigments; isotopes; reaction mechanisms; solar cells