π-Expanded dibenzo-BODIPY with near-infrared light absorption: Investigation of photosensitizing properties of NiO-based p-type dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Dyes and pigments Vol. 170; p. 107613
• Main Authors: Higashino, Yuta, Erten-Ela, Sule, Kubo, Yuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2019
• Subjects: BODIPY; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Near-infrared absorbing dyes; NiO; Dye-sensitized solar cell; BODIPY; NiO; Near-infrared absorbing dyes
• ISSN: 0143-7208; 1873-3743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2019.107613

Much attention has been devoted to the synthesis of dyes that absorb near-infrared (NIR) radiation because of numerous demands for them as functional materials. Given that NIR sensitizers applicable to p-type dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices are extremely rare, π-extended dibenzo-BODIPY sensitizer 1 containing triphenylamine and nitrothiophene units was synthesized; the absorption spectrum of 1 showed an intense absorption band at 730 nm with a molar extinction coefficient of 7.14 × 104 M−1 cm−1. A p-type DSSC device with a 1-loaded NiO electrode was fabricated and its cell performance was investigated. It showed an open circuit voltage (VOC), a short circuit current density (JSC), and a fill factor (FF) of 79 mV, 0.61 mA cm−2, and 0.25, respectively. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency was 0.012%. Its performance was low, mainly owing to very fast recombination between the NiO and reduced dye at the surface of the electrode. However, EQE measurement showed that the 1-loaded p-type DSSC devices convert photons into current at wavelengths up to 850 nm, so further investigation to improve the cell performance is deserved. [Display omitted] •A π-extended BODIPY dye 1 containing triphenylamine and nitrothiophene units was synthesized for the first time.•The dye 1 showed an intense absorption band at 730 nm with a molar extinction coefficient of 7.14 × 104 M−1 cm−1. .•The EQE measurement showed that a 1-loaded p-type DSSC devices convert photons into current at wavelengths up to 850 nm.