Abstract
The synthesis of a 4,4′-bis(2-thienyl-5-carboxylic acid) functionalised 2,2′-bipyridine ligand and corresponding copper(I) complex is described and its application in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is studied. The positioning of the thiophene groups appears favourable from DFT analysis and a best efficiency of 1.41% was obtained with this dye, for a 0.3 cm2 cell area DSSC. Two absorbance bands are observed in the electronic absorption spectrum of the copper(I) complex at 316 nm and 506 nm, with ε values of 50,000 M−1 cm−1 and 9030 M−1 cm−1, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are also used to provide a detailed analysis of the dye and assess its functionality in a DSSC.
Highlights
Over the past two decades, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have established themselves as a promising and versatile technology for converting solar energy into electrical energy [1,2]
Part of the increase in interest in copper DSSCs may be ascribed to a communication in 2008 from Constable, Housecroft and co-workers [12] which described the straightforward synthesis of a 6,60Dimethyl-2,20-bipyridine-4,40-dicarboxylic acid ligand 1 and the preparation of the corresponding analogous copper(I) complex [Cu(1)2]Cl (Scheme 1)
A synthesis was planned which had some similarity in its initial steps to that reported by Constable and coworkers for the 6,60-dimethyl-2,20-bipyridine-4,40-dicarboxylic acid ligand 1 [12,13], but starting from 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde 4 [27] rather than 2-furaldehyde (Scheme 2)
Summary
Over the past two decades, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have established themselves as a promising and versatile technology for converting solar energy into electrical energy [1,2]. Part of the increase in interest in copper DSSCs may be ascribed to a communication in 2008 from Constable, Housecroft and co-workers [12] (and the ensuing full paper [13]) which described the straightforward synthesis of a 6,60Dimethyl-2,20-bipyridine-4,40-dicarboxylic acid ligand 1 and the preparation of the corresponding analogous copper(I) complex [Cu(1)2]Cl (Scheme 1). Odobel et al have used this approach to synthesise and evaluate numerous heteroleptic complexes [16], achieving a top efficiency of h 1⁄4 4.66% (vs h 1⁄4 7.36% for an N719 cell prepared concurrently), when employing a bulky 6,60-bis(mesityl)2,20-bipyridyl ligand with carboxylic acid anchoring groups, in conjunction with an electron-donating p-diethylaminostyryl bipyridine ancillary ligand [16c]. These methyl groups impart essential steric bulk e as established previously in the literature [25,26] the design of copper(I) complexes needs to be carefully planned to prevent geometry changes upon oxidation from copper(I) to (II)
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