Abstract

Two novel near‐infrared (NIR)‐sensitive unsymmetrical squaraine dyes, SQ‐258 and SQ‐259, for their suitability as a sensitizer in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are designed and synthesized, followed by photophysical and photovoltaic characterizations. It is demonstrated that introducing a 1,3‐indandione acceptor unit in the central squaric acid core of SQ‐259 leads to the suppression of dye aggregation owing to its nonplanar molecular geometry and the broadening of the optical absorption and photon‐harvesting window up to 800 nm. Owing to the extended wavelength photon harvesting, SQ‐259 improves the photoconversion efficiency (PCE) compared to its SQ‐258 dye counterpart. However, despite its wide wavelength photon harvesting, the improvement in the PCE of SQ‐259 is less pronounced, and this is attributed to the small driving force for injection of electrons (0.29 eV), hampered electronic coupling, and decreased electron lifetime for resistance to recombination (7.9 ms), which is confirmed by the cyclic voltammetry, quantum chemical calculation, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic investigations, respectively.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.