Abstract

Microwave chemistry involves the application of microwave radiation to chemical reactions and has played an important role in organic synthesis. Functional dyes are those with hi-tech applications and this chapter attempts to provide an overview of the recent developments in microwave-assisted synthesis of functional dyes. Emphasis has been paid to the microwave-assisted synthesis of dye molecules which are useful in hi-tech applications such as optoelectronics (dye-sensitized solar cells), photochromic materials, liquid crystal displays, newer emissive displays (organic-light emitting devices), electronic materials (organic semiconductors), imaging technologies (electrophotography viz., photocopying and laser printing), biomedical applications (fluorescent sensors and anticancer treatment such as photodynamic therapy). In this chapter, the advantages of microwaves as a source of energy for heating synthesis reactions have been demonstrated. The use of microwaves to functional dyes is a paradigm shift in dye chemistry. Until recently most academic laboratories did not practice this technique in the synthesis of such functional dyes but many reports are being appeared in the journals of high repute.

Highlights

  • Microwaves are the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with the wavelengths from 1 mm to 1 m with corresponding frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz

  • The functional dyes used in solar cells, fluorescent sensors, fluorescent dyes to print on fibres, photochromic materials, organic light-emitting diodes (O-light-emitting diode (LED)), and dyes with advanced applications which were synthesized only under microwave irradiation are discussed

  • The structures of the dyes/ sensitizers synthesized under microwave irradiation along with the parameters such as short-circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), Fill Factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cells fabricated using these dyes are discussed

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Microwaves are the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with the wavelengths from 1 mm to 1 m with corresponding frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. The microwave-assisted organic synthesis (MAOS) has made revolutionary changes in the methodology since there is a dramatic enhancement in the yield of the reaction, modifications of selectivity, increased purity of products, simplified work-up procedure, and above all reduction in the reaction time. These are the primary benefits over conventional methods. In the case of the microwave irradiation, the energy is introduced through the electromagnetic field interaction into the molecules and the transfer of electromagnetic energy to thermal energy is energy conversion instead of heat transfer This variation in the mode of introduction of energy leads to the advantages of using microwaves during chemical reactions. The use of microwave energy for their synthesis has the potential to offer similar advantages in reduced reaction times and energy savings for obtaining useful materials such as dyes possessing hi-tech applications

Functional dyes
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
Microwave synthesized dyes/sensitizers in DSSCs
Fluorescent dyes
Cyanine dyes
Naphthalimide dyes
Coumarin dyes
Benzimidazole dyes
Thiophene dyes
Inorganic dyes
Photochromatic dyes
Organic-light emitting diodes (O-LEDs)
Findings
Conclusions
Full Text
Published version (Free)

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