title: On the stability of manganese tris(β-diketonate) complexes as redox mediators in DSSCs.
abstract: The photoelectrochemical properties and stability of dye sensitized solar cells containing Mn(β-diketonato)3 complexes, [Mn(III)(acac)3] () (acac = acetylacetonate), [Mn(III)(CF2)3] () (CF2 = 4,4-difluoro-1-phenylbutanate-1,3-dione), [Mn(III)(DBM)3] () (DBM = dibenzoylmethanate), [Mn(II)(CF2)3]TBA (TBA = tetrabutylammonium) () and [Mn(II)(DBM)3]TBA (), have been evaluated. At room temperature, the complexes undergo ligand exchange with 4-tert-butyl-pyridine, an additive commonly used in the solar device to reduce charge recombination at the photoanode. An increased device stability was achieved by using the Z907 dye and passivating the photoanode with short chain siloxanes. It was also found that the Mn(ii)/(iii) couple is involved in the dye regeneration process, instead of Mn(iii)/(iv) (E1/2 > 1 V vs. SCE) previously indicated in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. crlsfn@unife.it g4s@unife.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. crlsfn@unife.it g4s@unife.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. crlsfn@unife.it g4s@unife.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casarin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. crlsfn@unife.it g4s@unife.it.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. crlsfn@unife.it g4s@unife.it.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bertolasi
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISOF c/o Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Argazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. crlsfn@unife.it g4s@unife.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caramori
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-27, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. crlsfn@unife.it g4s@unife.it.
authors.forename: Carlo Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bignozzi