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Characterization of metal-free D-(π-A)2 organic dye and its application as cosensitizer along with N719 dye for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

The optical, electrochemical and density functional theory molecular simulation of a metal-free D-(π-A)2, i.e., 3,3′-(5,5′-(9-hexyl-9H-carbazole-3,6-diyl)bis(thiophene-5,2-diyl))bis(2-cyanoacrylic acid) denoted as D has been investigated. A stepwise cosensitization of D with N719 dye is adopted to enhance the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The metal-free dye possesses strong absorption in the 370–450 nm wavelength range and effectively overcomes the competitive light absorption by I −3 /I −. The N719/D cosensitized dye-sensitized solar cell shows a power conversion efficiency of about 7.24 %, which is higher than the dye-sensitized solar cells based on either N719 (5.78 %) or D (3.95 %) sensitizers. The improved power conversion efficiency of the cosensitized dye-sensitized solar cell is attributed to the combined enhancement of both short-circuit photocurrent and open-circuit voltage. The short-circuit photocurrent improvement is attributed to the increase in the both light-harvesting efficiency of the cosensitized photoanode and charge collection efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell. However, the open-circuit voltage is improved due to better adsorption and surface coverage of TiO2 on cosensitization and an associated reduction in the back electron recombination with increased electron lifetime. These effects are analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and dark current–voltage measurements of the dye-sensitized solar cells.

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Acknowledgments

Manjeet Singh is grateful to Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, India, for Institute Fellowship for supporting his doctoral studies. Authors are thankful to UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI-II) project coordinated by the British Council, New Delhi, India, for financial support through a Thematic Partnership. Authors are also thankful to M. Chandrasekharam, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India, for providing the metal-free dye D.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, 462051, Madhya Pradesh, India

    M. Singh & R. Kurchania

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    A. Pockett & P. J. Cameron

  3. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    R. J. Ball

  4. Institute of Chemical Engineering Science, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Stadiou Str. Platani, Patras, 26504, Greece

    E. N. Koukaras

  5. R&D Center for Engineering and Science, JEC Group of Colleges, JEC Campus, Kukas, Jaipur, 303101, Rajasthan, India

    G. D. Sharma

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  1. M. Singh
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Correspondence to R. Kurchania.

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Singh, M., Kurchania, R., Pockett, A. et al. Characterization of metal-free D-(π-A)2 organic dye and its application as cosensitizer along with N719 dye for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. Indian J Phys 89, 1041–1050 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-015-0681-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-015-0681-0

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