Effective photocurrent generation in supramolecular porphyrin-fullerene conjugates assembled by crown ether-alkyl ammonium cation interactions

• Published in: Dyes and pigments Vol. 151; pp. 385 - 390
• Main Authors: Zhu, Peihua, Song, Feifei, Ma, Pan, Li, Shanshan, Wang, Yucheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Crown ether; D-A arrays; Fullerene; Photoelectrochemistry; Porphyrin; Fullerene; Photoelectrochemistry; Crown ether; Porphyrin; D-A arrays
• ISSN: 0143-7208; 1873-3743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2018.01.012

In this paper, a new approach for fabricating donor-acceptor (D-A) arrays, (Si-TCP)n-PhC60NH3+, 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(benzo-15-crown-5)porphyrin (TCP), 2-Phenyl-5-(n-butylammonium)-3,4-fulleropyrrolidine (PhC60NH3+), on indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode is demonstrated. Electronic absorption spectra, atomic force microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis were used as powerful tools to characterize (Si-TCP)n arrays and (Si-TCP)n-PhC60NH3+ arrays on the ITO electrode. The (Si-TCP)n-PhC60NH3+ arrays was immobilized on the electrode avoided the traditional fussy operations for immobilizing both porphyrin materials and fullerene, which led to a significantly reduction of background signal and an enhancement of initial photocurrent signal. These results would provide fundamental clues for the molecular design of high-performance organic photovoltaics. A new approach for fabrication porphyrin-fullerene arrays immobilized on the ITO electrode was demonstrated, which led to an enhancement of photocurrent. [Display omitted] •A new approach for fabrication porphyrin-fullerene arrays immobilized on the ITO electrode was demonstrated.•The porphyrin-fullerene arrays with precise controlling were obtained.•The porphyrin-fullerene arrays led to an enhancement of photocurrent.