Comparison of solar cell performance of conducting polymer dyes with different functional groups

► The effects of different functional groups (−COOH, −NH2, and −CN) in the poly(terthiophene) backbone on the efficiency and the resulting photovoltaic performance of solar cells were investigated. ► Electrochemically polymerized films on a nanocrystalline TiO2 layer were examined as photo sensitizers and the cell performance was compared. ► The poly(terthiophene) derivative with carboxylic acid groups was used as an efficient photosensitizer and was shown as a possible alternative material to the Ru complexes.