Effect of Ligand Structures of Copper Redox Shuttles on Photovoltaic Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

In recent years, copper(I/II) complexes have emerged as alternative redox shuttles in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), exhibiting more positive redox potential than iodine- and cobalt-based redox shuttles. In particular, copper(I/II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline- or 2,2'-bipyridyl-based ligands attained moderate to high power conversion efficiencies (6-11%) with a high open-circuit voltage (VOC) over 1.0 V due to the positive potentials. Although copper(I/II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline-based ligands with 2,9-substituents have been developed, the effect of their ligand structures on the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs have not been fully addressed due to limited synthetic access to 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of copper(I/II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline ligands with different substituents at the 2,9-positions: bis(2-n-butyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I/II) ([Cu(bp)2]1+/2+), bis(2-ethyl-9-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I/II) ([Cu(emp)2]1+/2+), bis(2,9-diethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I/II) ([Cu(dep)2]1+/2+), and bis(2,9-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I/II) ([Cu(dpp)2]1+/2+). The more positive redox potentials of [Cu(emp)2]1+/2+ and [Cu(dep)2]1+/2+, compared to that of bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I/II) ([Cu(dmp)2]1+/2+), originate from the larger steric hindrance of the ethyl group instead of the methyl group, whereas the redox potential of [Cu(bp)2]1+/2+ is significantly shifted to the negative direction because of the lower steric hindrance of the 2-monosubstituted 1,10-phenanthroline ligands. The efficiency of the DSSC with [Cu(bp)2]1+/2+ (5.90%) is almost comparable to the DSSC with [Cu(dmp)2]1+/2+ (6.29%). In contrast, the DSSCs with [Cu(emp)2]1+/2+ (3.25%), [Cu(dep)2]1+/2+ (2.56%), and [Cu(dpp)2]1+/2+ (2.21%) exhibited lower efficiencies than those with [Cu(dmp)2]1+/2+ and [Cu(bp)2]1+/2+. The difference can be rationalized by the electron collection efficiencies. Considering the similar photovoltaic properties of the DSSCs with [Cu(bp)2]1+/2+ and [Cu(dmp)2]1+/2+, the use of copper(I/II) complexes with 2-monosubstituted 1,10-phenanthroline ligands as the redox shuttle may be useful to improve the short-circuit current density while retaining the rather high VOC value when dyes with a smaller bandgap (i.e., better light harvesting) are developed.

Thiazolocatechol: Electron-Withdrawing Catechol Anchoring Group for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Anchoring groups adopting a five-membered bidentate chelating are attractive to realize high power conversion efficiency (η) and long-term durability in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this regard, we chose catechol as an anchoring group that can adopt the chelating. However, the DSSCs with catechol-based sensitizers have never exceeded an η-value of 2 %. These poor photovoltaic performances may be associated with the electron-donating ability of the hydroxy groups in catechol. Considering these, we envisioned that fusing an electron-withdrawing thiazole moiety with a catechol anchoring group would improve its photovoltaic performance. Herein, we report a push-pull porphyrin sensitizer ZnPTC with a thiazolocatechol anchoring group. The DSSC with ZnPTC exhibited η=4.87 %. This value is the highest ever reported for catechol-anchor based DSSCs. Meanwhile, the long-term cell durability was not improved, although the robust anchoring properties were attained under harsh conditions.

Renaissance of Fused Porphyrins: Substituted Methylene-Bridged Thiophene-Fused Strategy for High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Over the last decades, porphyrin sensitizers have made a remarkable contribution to performance improvement in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In particular, versatile push-pull-type porphyrin sensitizers have achieved power conversion efficiencies (η) over 10% as a result of their improved light-harvesting abilities. Meanwhile, aromatic ring fusion to a porphyrin core is an attractive option for highly efficient DSSCs because of its expanded π-conjugation and resultant red-shifted absorption. Nevertheless, aromatic-fused porphyrin sensitizers have suffered rather low cell performances due to their mismatch of HOMO-LUMO levels, high aggregation tendency, and short lifetime of the excited states. Bearing these in mind, we envisioned that the fusion of substituted methylene-bridged small aromatic ring to a porphyrin core would overcome these drawbacks, boosting the cell performance. Herein, we report a series of substituted methylene-bridged thiophene-fused porphyrins, AfZnP, DfZnP, and DfZnP- iPr. After optimization, DSSC with the donor-side thiophene-fused DfZnP- iPr achieved an η-value of 10.1%, which is comparable to that of DSSC with GY50 (10.0%), a representative high-performance push-pull-type porphyrin sensitizer. More importantly, cosensitization of DfZnP- iPr with a complementary sensitizer LEG4 further led to an η-value of 10.7%, which is the highest value ever reported for DSSCs with fused porphyrin sensitizers. Therefore, our strategy will reboot the exploration of aromatic-fused porphyrin sensitizers for high-performance DSSCs.

ABC-ABC-Type Directly meso-meso Linked Porphyrin Dimers.

Covalently linked porphyrin oligomers are attractive because of their extended π-conjugated systems. Among various porphyrin oligomers, directly meso-meso linked porphyrin oligomers exhibit unique photophysical properties due to their strong exciton couplings derived from the alternative orthogonal geometry of the porphyrins. Although their structural and electronic properties can be greatly altered by substituents at meso positions, it is still difficult to introduce different substituents at the meso positions. Thus, it is a challenge to develop general synthetic methodologies for functional porphyrin dimers and oligomers with different substituents at the meso positions. Herein, a general synthetic strategy for ABC-ABC-type directly meso-meso linked porphyrin dimers by stepwise functionalization starting from 10,15,20-meso-free 5-substituted porphyrin as building block is established. A meso-ABC-ABC-type meso-meso-linked donor-π-acceptor-type porphyrin dimer was prepared and exhibited the highest power conversion efficiency (7.91 %) ever reported for dye-sensitized solar cells based on dimeric orthogonal donor-π-acceptor-type organic sensitizers. This synthetic strategy will provide useful guidance for the rational design of functional porphyrin dimers and oligomers for diverse applications.