Dual-channel anchorable organic dye with triphenylamine-based core bridge unit for dye-sensitized solar cells

• Dual-channel anchorable dye was synthesized and used as sensitizer for DSSCs.
• DC dye linked to the two donors using a core bridge donor of triphenylamine unit.
• The inter-planar DC5 exhibited dye aggregation and charge recombination.
• The aggregation between channels of dye was reduced by coadsorbents.
• DC5-DSSCs with coadsorbents decreased the charge recombination.

Dual-channel (DC) anchorable organic dye based on an acceptor–π–donor-core bridge donor–donor–π-acceptor structural motif, was synthesized and used as sensitizer for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DC dye linked the two donors using a core bridge donor such as triphenylamine unit, which makes two channels maintaining a particular distance (>4 Å). The inter-planar DC5 exhibited dye aggregation and charge recombination due to strongly intermolecular π–π stacking between the channels of DC dyes adsorbed on the TiO2 surface. As a result, a solar cell based on DC5 with a hole conductor coadsorbent of HC-A1 showed better photovoltaic performance with a Jsc of 8.90 mA cm−2, a Voc of 0.70 V, and an FF of 0.77, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency (η) of 4.80%.

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