Abstract
Two azobenzene dyes, [Cu(azobenzene-4,4′-dicarboxylate) diethylenediamine]n (ADD), [Cd(4,4′-diazenediyldibenzoato)(H2O)]n (DDB), have been designed, synthesized, and characterized as efficient co-sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The optical, charge-transfer, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of ADD and DDB are investigated by UV-visible spectroscopy, transient surface photovoltage measurement, cyclic voltammetry, and photocurrent–photovoltage measurement. The combination of ADD and DDB in DSSC leads to a wide spectral absorption over the whole visible range (350–700 nm). DSSC with ADD and DDB exhibits a short-circuit photocurrent density as high as 16.96 mA cm−2, open-circuit photovoltage of 0.73 V, a fill factor of 0.57, and overall light conversion efficiency of 7.1% under standard global AM1.5 solar irradiation conditions.
Highlights
In the face of limited fossil fuels and the disastrous environmental problem, people realize the urgent need to develop renewable energy resources for the increasing global energy demand
We examined the structural homogeneity of bulk powder sample of ADD through comparison of experimental and simulated PXRD patterns
The overall solar conversion efficiency of Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on ADD + DDB/TiO2 tremendously increases to 7.1%
Summary
In the face of limited fossil fuels and the disastrous environmental problem, people realize the urgent need to develop renewable energy resources for the increasing global energy demand. The black dye achieves very efficient sensitization over the whole visible range extending into the near-IR region up to 920 nm, yielding an overall conversion efficiency of 10.4%. The synthesis of DDB is slightly different from the literature.[9] A mixture containing H2L (5 mg, 0.019 mmol), CdCl2$2.5H2O (30 mg, 0.15 mmol), H2O (12 mL) and triethylamine (0.05 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 1 h until a clear solution formed. It was transferred into a Parr Te on-lined stainless steel vessel (25 mL) and heated to 150 C for 72 h under autogenous pressure.
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