Synthesis, characterization and light harvesting properties of Sb(III) and Bi(III) ferrocenyl dithiocarbamate complexes

•Sb(III) and Bi(III) ferrocenyl dithiocarbamate complexes synthesized.•The electrochemical an optical properties investigated.•The light harvesting properties investigated using these compounds as photosensitizers.

New Sb(III) and Bi(III) ferrocenyl dithiocarbamate complexes viz. [Sb(FcCH2Bzdtc)3] (Sb) and [Bi(FcCH2Bzdtc)3] (Bi) (Fc = C5H5FeC5H4; Bz = C6H5CH2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The optical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of the synthesized complexes were investigated. The light harvesting properties of both of the compounds have been studied using these compounds as photosensitizers in TiO2-based DSSCs. The photovoltaic devices fabricated by Sb and Bi showed a maximum current conversion efficiency of 1.51% and 0.97%, respectively under 1.5 AM illumination (100 mW cm−2) and having incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) of 38% and 31%, respectively. The reason for the higher efficiency of Sb is due its higher dye loading.

Graphical abstractSb(III) and Bi(III) ferrocenyl dithiocarbamate complexes viz. [Sb(FcCH2Bzdtc)3] and [Bi(FcCH2Bzdtc)3] (Fc = C5H5FeC5H4; Bz = C6H5CH2) synthesized and light harvesting properties have been studied using these compounds as photosensitizers in TiO2-based DSSC.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide