New D−A propeller system with pyridine core for co-sensitization in dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In this study, a propeller-type molecule with a pyridine core (D) was designed and synthesized. Photophysical and electrochemical studies, along with theoretical DFT simulations, indicated that the molecule has suitable light absorption properties and frontier molecular orbital levels for usage as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Meanwhile, the standard dye Z-907 was chosen to investigate the effect of the synthesized molecule as a co-adsorbent dye on DSSCs. Intriguingly, when compared to the D and Z907-based devices, the performance of the co-sensitized Z907 + D cell exhibited an increase in photocurrent (JSC), photo-voltage (VOC), and, as a result, total power conversion efficiency (PCE).