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Synthesis and Computational Characterization of Organic UV-Dyes for Cosensitization of Transparent Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

ABSTRACT: The fabrication of colorless and see-through dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) requires the photosensitizers to have little or no absorption in the visible light region of the solar spectrum. However, a trade-off between transparency and power conversion efficiency (PCE) has to be tackled, since most transparent DSCs are showing low PCE when compared to colorful and opaque DSCs. One strategy to increase PCE is applying two cosensitizers with selective conversion of the UV and NIR radiation, therefore, the non-visible part only is absorbed. In this study, we report synthesis of novel five UV-selective absorbers, based on diimide and Schiff bases incorporating carboxyl and pyridyl anchoring groups. A systematic computational investigation using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT approaches was employed to evaluate their prospect of application in transparent DSCs. Experimental UV/Vis absorption spectra showed that all dyes exhibit an absorption band covering the mid/near-UV region of solar spectrum, with a bathochromic shift and a hyperchromic shifts for Py-1 dye. Computational results showed that the studied dyes satisfied the basic photophysical and energetics requirements of operating DSC as well as the stability and thermodynamical spontaneity of adsorption onto surface of TiO₂. However, results revealed outperformance of the thienothiophene core-containing Py-1 UV-dye, owing to its advantageous structural attributes, improved conjugation, intense emission, large Stokes shift and maximum charge transferred to the anchor. Chemical compatibility of Py-1 dye was then theoretically investigated as a potential cosensitizer of a reference VG20-C2 NIR-dye. By the judicious selection of pyridyl anchor-based UV-absorber (Py-1) and carboxyl anchor-based NIR-absorber (VG20), the advantage of the optical complementarity and selectivity of different TiO₂-adsorption-site (Lewis- and Bronsted-acidic) can be achieved. An improved overall PCE is estimated accordingly.

SUBMITTER: Alnoman RB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8658785 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Molecular cosensitization is favorable for manipulating solar radiation through the judicious choice of cosensitizers having complementary absorption spectra. For greenhouse-integrated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), the manipulation of solar radiation is crucial in order to maximize the flow of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) for the effectual photosynthetic activity of plants; meanwhile, non-PAR is utilized in agrivoltaics for generating electricity. In this study, we report the synthesis of novel four UV-selective absorbers, based on the diimide scaffold, functionalized with carboxylate and pyridyl anchoring groups, for adequate adsorption onto the TiO2 electrode in DSC. The UV/Vis absorption spectra of the DMF solution-based free dyes were measured experimentally. Basic photophysical and energetics requirements for operating greenhouse-integrated DSCs were examined at the molecular level via (time-dependent) density functional theory-based calculations. The computational results revealed the outperformance of the biphenyldiimide-structured DI-CA1 dye, especially for maximum charge transferred to its anchor, lower thermodynamic barrier for dissociating the photogenerated exciton, largest Stokes' shift, strong electronic coupling with TiO2 nanoparticles, and higher degree of charge separation at the DI-CA1/TiO2 interface. PDOS showed deeper existence for the LUMO level in the CB of TiO2, which expedites the electron injection process. The chemical and optical compatibility of DI-CA1 were then investigated as a potential cosensitizer of a reference BTD-DTP1, a green light-absorbing dye. Considerable overlap between the fluorescence spectrum of DI-CA1 and absorption spectrum of the reference BTD-DTP1 advocated the opportunity of excitation energy transfer via the radiative trivial reabsorption mechanism, which confirms the cosensitization functionality. Energy decomposition analysis and reduced density gradient maps estimated the chemical compatibility owing to weak dispersion interactions as the dominant stabilizing attractive force. This noncovalent functionalization retains the chemical compatibility without distorting the π-π conjugation and the associated physicochemical properties of the individual dye molecules. Along with the expanded consumption of non-photosynthetically active solar radiation, an improved power conversion efficiency of greenhouse-integrated DSC is accordingly expected.

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Synthesis and Computational Characterization of Organic UV-Dyes for Cosensitization of Transparent Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

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