Synthesis and Characterization of Two New Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

In the present study, two new organic dyes based on indigo were prepared and used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. To this end, indoxyl was utilized as the electron-donor and acrylic acid and cyanoacrylic acid were used as the electron-acceptor anchoring groups. These dyes were purified and characterized by analytical techniques. Spectrophotometric evaluations of the prepared dyes in solution and on a nano-anatase-TiO₂ substrate were investigated. Additionally, oxidation potential measurements were also carried out. Finally, dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated to determine the photovoltaic behavior and conversion efficiency of each dye.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Conversion efficiencies
• dye-sensitized solar cells
• indigo
• photocurrent–photovoltage curves
• photovoltaic materials
• sensitizers

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors sincerely thank the Center of Excellence for Color Science and Technology for making this investigation possible.