title: Efficient copper mediators based on bulky asymmetric phenanthrolines for DSSCs.
abstract: In the context of the development of new electron mediators for dye-sensitized solar cells that could efficiently substitute the more common I3(-)/I(-) redox couple, we have prepared a series of Cu(I)- phenanthroline complexes through an easy synthetic route. The novel [Cu(2-mesityl-4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)2]PF6 (3) is of particular interest because the presence of the bulky mesityl groups protects as a kiss lock the Cu center, leading to superior dye regeneration kinetics with respect to simpler phenanthroline-based Cu(I) complexes and to a lower dark current with respect the I3(-)/I(-). The exploitation of a dual-component electrolyte constituted by (3) and a Fe(II) comediator, in combination with the [Ru(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)2(4,4'-dinonyl-2,2'-bipyridine)](PF6)2 sensitizer, allowed us to increase the performance of the cell, reaching Jsc values of 4.0 mA cm(-2), comparable to that recorded with I3(-)/I(-) (3.8 mA cm(-2)).
authors: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano , UdR dell'INSTM, Via Golgi 19, Milano 20133 Italy.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Colombo
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Dragonetti
authors: Mirko
authors: M
authors: Magni
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Roberto
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Demartin
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Caramori
authors: Carlo A
authors: CA
authors: Bignozzi