Synthesis of phthalocyanine complexes carrying caffeic acid groups: increasing photovoltaic performance by doping silver nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

Recently, phthalocyanines with carboxyl group have attracted attention for dye-sensitive solar cells. For this purpose, the caffeic acid unit was first reacted with phthalonitrile. Phthalocyanine complexes bearing carboxyl groups were obtained by reacting the synthesized phthalonitrile compound with different metal salts. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized using nükleer manyetik rezonans (NMR), UV-VIS Spektrofotometre(UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Mass spectroscopy (MS) methods. Fluorescence and aggregation properties were investigated. The efficiencies (%η) of dye-sensitized solar cells are obtained by measurements of voltage (V) curves-current density (J). In this study, phthalocyanine compounds carrying carboxyl groups were used. Photovoltaic values were measured again by adding silver nanoparticles to the same compounds. It was observed that the power conversion efficiencies increased much more when the same compounds were doped with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This shows that the efficacy of phthalocyanine compounds for dye-sensitized solar cells can be significantly improved by AgNP doping. Power conversion efficiency was measured as 1.92, 2.11, and 2.20 for compounds 4,5 and 6, respectively, without doping to phthalocyanine compounds. Doping with silver nanoparticles showed an increase of 58%, 59%, and 56% for the same compounds, respectively. This shows that the power conversion effect of phthalocyanines can be made more efficiently with AgNPs doping.

KEYWORDS:

• Synthesis
• fluorescence
• phthalocyanine
• aggregation
• photovoltaic
• AgNP doping

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Scientific Research Projects Unit for their project support numbered FDK-2019-8105.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Derya Güngördü Solğun

Derya Güngördü Solğun received her MSc and PhD degrees in Chemistry Department from Van Yuzuncu Yıl University in 2011 and 2020, respectively. Currently, she is a Assistant Professor Dr. in the Yuzuncu Yıl University, Van, Turkey. Her research interests include Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Macrocyclic compound.

Abdullah Özkartal

Abdullah Özkartal received his PhD in 2015 on Physical from Van Yuzuncu Yıl University, Van, Turkey. Currently, he is an Associate Professor Dr. in the Physical Department of Van Yuzuncu Yıl University, Van, Turkey. His research interests include Electronic Structure, Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties and Basic Sciences.

Mehmet Salih Ağırtaş

Mehmet Salih Ağırtaş received his MSc in 1995. He received his PhD from Yuzuncu Yıl University-Van in 1999. Currently, he is an Professor Dr. in the Chemistry Department of Van Yuzuncu Yıl University, Van, Turkey. His research interests include Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, macrocyclic compounds, Coordination chemistry, Basic Sciences.