Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of two new unsymmetrical zinc-phthalocyanine dyes

Two new soluble unsymmetrical zinc-phthalocyanine derivatives (PC-HY1, PC-HY2) with D-π-A structure bearing three tert-butylphenyl or tert-butylthienyl groups and cyanoacrylic acid groups were synthesized through a low-cost “anhydride” method. The photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of the phthalocyanine derivatives were studied. The two phthalocyanine derivatives showed strong and broad absorption in the UV and red/near-infrared (IR) region, especially for PC-HY2. The electrochemical properties indicated that the two phthalocyanine derivatives are latent materials for dye-sensitized solar cells. Under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100 mW cm−2, dye-sensitized solar cells based on PC-HY1 and PC-HY2 showed power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.79% and 1.09%, respectively.

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► Two new zinc-phthalocyanine dyes were synthesized through a low-cost “anhydrid” method.
► The chemical structures of two dyes were characterized.
► The zinc-phthalocyanine dyes were applied in PSCs.