Organic photosensitizers with N-carboxymethyl pyridinium acceptor/anchoring group for dye-sensitized solar cells

Four new organic dyes with N-carboxymethyl pyridinium as electron acceptors/anchoring groups were designed and synthesized. The optical and electrochemical properties were characterized by UV–vis, fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The absorption spectra of the four pyridinium dyes were in the range of 450–650 nm. The dye with triphenylamine as the electron donor shows a solar-energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 2.33% in comparison with the reference Ru-complex (N719 dye) with a η value of 5.45% under the same experimental conditions. The dye with phenoxazine as the electron donor gives broad IPCE spectra in the range of 400–750 nm. All these new dyes are simple in structure, very easy to synthesize, and gives high Voc.

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► Four novel N-carboxymethyl pyridinium dyes were designed and synthesized.
► The new dyes are simple in structure, very easy to synthesize, and gives high Voc.
► CB1 obtained a η value of 2.33% (the reference Ru-complex N719 dye 5.45%).