Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on panchromatic ruthenium sensitizers with quinolinylbipyridine anchors.
Panchromatic Ru(II) sensitizers TF-30-TF-33 bearing a new class of 6-quinolin-8-yl-2,2'-bipyridine anchor were synthesized and tested under AM1.5 G simulated solar irradiation. Their increased π conjugation relative to that of the traditional 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-based anchor led to a remarkable improvement in absorptivity across the whole UV-Vis-NIR spectral regime. Furthermore, the introduction of a bulky tert-butyl substituent on the quinolinyl fragment not only led to an increase in the JSC  value owing to the suppression of dye aggregation, but remarkably also resulted in no loss in VOC in comparison with the reference sensitizer containing a tricarboxyterpyridine anchor. The champion sensitizer in DSC devices was found to be TF-32 with a performance of JSC =19.2 mA cm(-2) , VOC =740 mV, FF=0.72, and η=10.19 %. This 6-quinolin-8-yl-2,2'-bipyridine anchor thus serves as a prototype for the next generation of Ru(II) sensitizers with any tridentate ancillary.
Department of Chemistry and Low Carbon Energy Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013 (Taiwan).
Chun-Cheng
CC
Chou
Fa-Chun
FC
Hu
Hsiu-Hsuan
HH
Yeh
Hsin-Pei
HP
Wu
Yun
Y
Chi
John N
JN
Clifford
Emilio
E
Palomares
Shih-Hung
SH
Liu
Pi-Tai
PT
Chou
Gene-Hsiang
GH
Lee
N ligands; panchromatic sensitizers; quinolines; ruthenium; solar cells