Novel dye sensitizers of main chain polymeric metal complexes based on complexes of 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole derivative with Zn(II), Co(II): synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic performance for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In this paper, four novel D–π–A polymeric metal complex as dye sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cell, which have Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) or carbazole derivative used as an electron donor, thiophene derivatives used as π-bridge and 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole derivative metal (Zn, Co) complex used as an electron acceptor (A) were synthesized and characterized. They have been determined and studied by FT-IR, TGA, DSC, GPC, elemental analysis, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, J–V curves and IPCE plots. The results show that four novel polymeric metal complex exhibited good photovoltaic property and thermal stability. The DSSC fabricated by P1, P2, P3 and P4 exhibit good device performance with a power conversion efficiency of up to 2.15, 2.27, 2.30 and 2.41 % (under simulated air mass 1.5 G irradiation) respectively, indicating the polymeric metal complexes are promising in the development of DSSC. .