Synthesis of novel tetra (4-tritylphenoxy) substituted metallophthalocyanines and investigation of their aggregation, photovoltaic, solar cell properties

Abstract

4-(4-tritylphenoxy) phthalonitrile was synthesized and characterized. Copper, zinc and cobalt phthalocyanines were obtained by reaction of 4-(4-tritylphenoxy)phthalonitrile with CuCl₂, ZnCl₂, CoCl₂ metal salts. New compounds were characterized by using electronic absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared. The aggregation investigation for phthalocyanine complexes carried out in different concentrations tetrahydrofuran. Copper, cobalt and zinc phthalocyanines were used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cell structures (DSSC) by growing on TiO₂ coated on FTO (Fluorine doped Tin Oxide) conductive glass substrates. Current density (J) versus voltage (V) measurements were applied to investigate the photovoltaic properties of the synthesized complexes. The calculated power conversion efficiencies (η%) of the complexes using the obtained current density (J) versus voltage (V) curves show that these devices can be used as promising sensitizers in solar cell applications.

Keywords:

• Characterization
• photovoltaic
• phthalocyanine
• synthesis
• aggregation
• solubility

Additional information

Funding

Author (Ağırtaş) thanks to Van Yuzuncu Yıl University Office of Scientific Research Projects for the financial support to his research laboratory (FAB-2018-7513).