Mini review on the performance of Schiff base and their metal complexes as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

For the requirement of clean and efficient energy, research toward the improvement of solar energy is increased because it directly converts the sunlight into electrical energy leaving no harmful effect on the environment. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are one of the best alternative approaches to conventional solar cells. The photosensitizer is one of the important components in DSSC and plays a key role to initiate the electrochemical process for electricity production by harvesting visible light. The power conversion efficiency of DSSC is typically based on the dye/sensitizer which is coated on the porous semiconductor TiO₂ film. Schiff base metal complexes have potential photosensitizing behavior, due to their photophysical properties. This article presents the current development attained in the designing and synthesis of Schiff base metal complexes and their application as photosensitizers and also co-sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, and recent developments on the DSSC using Schiff based metal complexes.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Dye-sensitized solar cells
• efficiency
• Schiff base
• sensitizer

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to VIT University management for instruments, laboratory facilities and seed grant for research.