title: Effect of isomerism and chain length on electronic structure, photophysics, and sensitizer efficiency in quadrupolar (donor)₂-acceptor systems for application in dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: We report on quadrupolar (donor)2-acceptor sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The acceptor units are based on dithieno[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine and dithieno[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine coupled to thiophene donors. The optoelectronic and photophysical properties of two sets of isomers reveal a rigid structure for linear isomers and an efficient nonradiative decay for branched isomers. These sensitizers were integrated into DSSCs, and the quadrupolar structure is an operational design, as the IPCE reached up to 38% from 400 nm to 600 nm. The lengthening of the donor chain increases the efficiency, demonstrating the appeal of these oligomeric dyes for DSSCs.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0400, United States.
authors.forename: Coralie A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Zhenxing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hsien-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Seda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cekli
authors.forename: Kirk S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Schanze
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Reynolds