New D-π-A-conjugated organic sensitizers based on α-pyranylidene donors for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A series of new push-pull organic dyes incorporating a cyanoacrylic acid group as electron acceptor unit and α-chalcogenopyranylidene group (X=S; O) as electron donor unit has been synthesized, characterized and used as sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For the first time, α-pyranylidene and thiopyranylidene groups, have been evaluated in DSSC. To obtain the thermodynamic values of the solar cell, an investigation of their electrochemical (CV) and optical properties (UV–vis absorption spectroscopy) is also reported.