Novel planar binuclear zinc phthalocyanine sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells: Synthesis and spectral, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties

• APC and bi-NPC were designed for use in dyes-sensitized solar cells.
• Bi-NPC was synthesized based on Schiff base.
• Schiff base could form coplanar condition between mononuclear phthalocyanines.
• Bi-NPC shows the higher absorbance, the better red shift and performance.

A planar binuclear zinc phthalocyanine was newly synthesized for use in dye-sensitized solar cells, based on Schiff base and asymmetric amino zinc phthalocyanine. The novel compounds were characterized using FTIR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR, cyclic voltammetry and elemental analysis. From the reduction and oxidation behavior, it is proved that APC and bi-NPC have negative LUMO levels and positive HOMO levels, satisfying the energy gap rule, and can be employed as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) applications.

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