A key point of porphyrin structure affect DSSCs performance based on porphyrin sensitizers

• Two sets of new porphyrin sensitizers have been prepared.
• The space hindrance of meso-substituents have an effect on the performance of DSSCs.
• The matching degree of the length of linkers and the size of meso-substituents is a key point.

Two sets of meso-tetraphenylzincporphyrins have been synthesized via Sonogashira coupling and Knoevenagel condensation. The photophysical and electrochemical measurements have been performed for each dye, and the photovoltaic properties of all porphyrin-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been evaluated. For different linkers on β position, meso-substituents show different affections for DSSCs' performances. The matching degree of the length of linker and the size of meso-substituent could be a key point in porphyrin structure that affect the cell performance of DSSC based on porphyrin sensitizers. The highest cell performance was achieved with IId as a sensitizer and ethanol as an immersing solvent: a short-circuit photocurrent density of 9.75 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.71 V, a fill factor of 0.73, and a light to electricity conversion efficiency of 5.08% under the AM 1.5 sunlight.

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