Investigation of solid hybrid solar cells based on molecular glasses

Abstract

We have synthesized new carbazole and ethylenedioxythiophene based molecular glasses with hydrazone and imine goups. Thermal analysis confirms the metastable amorphous properties of these molecules with glass temperature in the range of 62 to 76°C. Electrochemical properties have been studied and show the effect of the conjugated imine or hydrazone groups on the electronic delocalization of the structures. A decrease of the oxidation potential, compared to the parent unsubstituted molecules, is observed, which decreases the HOMO energetic level and improves the donor properties of the molecules. Amorphous materials of low molecular weight should allow the regeneration of the oxidized sensitizer in agreement with their respective energetic levels. Moreover, all the molecules absorb light in the range of the wavelength, blue-shifted in comparison with the ruthenium dye, which limits the shield effect for a good photogeneration of charge carrier in the dye. Results suggest that such molecular glasses could find applications in photovoltaic devices.