New self-assemblies with zinc meso-tetra[3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl] porphyrin for use in supramolecular solar cells

Abstract

In this work, a new zinc meso-tetra[3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]porphyrin (ZnP) was synthesized. Further, the porphyrin ZnP was immobilized by metal-ligand axial coordination (ZnP-A) and a metal-ligand edged binding approach (ZnP-Zn-A) on the nanostructured TiO₂ electrode surface modified with coordinating ligand functionality, isonicotinic acid (A). The performances of the assemblies-sensitized solar cells were performed under irradiance of 100 mW cm⁻² AM 1.5G sunlight. Photo-electrochemical studies reveal significantly improved performance of the assembly ZnP-A. These assemblies can afford a fertile base for further design and fabrication of new supramolecular solar cells in future.

• Keywords
• Self-assembly
• Zinc porphyrin
• Solar cell

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Prof. Peng Wang (Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences) for supplying device fabrication and measurement of solar cells. We also thank the support of Gansu Computing Center of China.