Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of ring-fused thiophene bridged push-pull dyes and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Bisdimethylfluorenylamino-based push-pull dyes bearing one or two benzo[c]thiophene and its precursor bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene (BCOD) fused thiophene as π bridge have been synthesized. The effect of fused-ring on thiophene bridge for the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of these dyes has been investigated. Dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated with these dyes show moderate photovoltaic properties.