New single-source precursor for bismuth sulfide and its use as low-cost counter electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells

•New homoleptic complex [Bi(dtc)3] synthesized.•Complex was investigated via multi-technique experimental approach.•Study suggests its applications as precursor for Bi2S3 material.•Prepared Bi2S3 finds application in low cost counter electrode in DSSC.

One new homoleptic [Bi(dtc)3] (1) (dtc = 4-hydroxypiperdine dithiocarbamate) has been synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, IR, UV–Vis, 1H and 13C spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The photoluminescence spectrum for the compound in DMSO solution was recorded. The crystal structure of 1 displayed distorted octahedral geometry around the Bi(III) center bonded through sulfur atoms of the dithiocarbamate ligands. TGA indicates that the compound decomposes to a Bi and Bi–S phase system. The Bi and Bi–S obtained from decomposition of the compound have been characterized by pXRD, EDAX and SEM. Solvothermal decomposition of 1 in the absence and presence of two different capping agents yielded three morphologically different Bi2S3 systems which were deployed as counter-electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).

Graphical abstractNew homoleptic [Bi(dtc)3] and decomposed to Bi2S3 with and without capping agents and the same have been used as low cost counter electrode in DSSCs.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide