Three horizontal anchor porphyrins for dye-sensitized solar cells: An optical, electrochemical and photovoltaic investigation

Porphyrins are promising DSSC sensitizers focused on novel anchoring. Herein, three horizontal anchor zinc porphyrins have been designed, synthesized, and well-characterized. Their optical, photovoltaic, theory calculation and electrochemical performances in dye-sensitized solar cells were investigated. Absorption spectra indicated the stronger H-aggregation in ortho carboxylic acid anchor porphyrin (o-ZnPA) than that in meta carboxylic acid anchor porphyrin (m-ZnPA) on the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles. The photoelectric conversion efficiency studies showed a significantly enhanced photovoltaic behavior for meta carboxylic acid anchor porphyrin (m-ZnPA) compared to meta tetrazolium anchor porphyrin (m-ZnPTz). The infrared spectroscopies, theory calculations and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopies revealed that carboxylic acid anchoring binding modes could increase the efficiency of electron injection.

Horizontal anchor zinc porphyrins have promising DSSC sensitizes. The UV–Vis absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and the photovoltaic performance of these photosynthesis devices are described. Our results reveal that these DSSC devices have impressive photoelectric conversion efficiency, especially for the assembly based on carboxylic group horizontal anchor porphyrin.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide