Thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-based organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Yung Chung Chen; Hsien Hsin Chou; Ming Chih Tsai; Sheng Yu Chen; Jiann T. Lin; Ching Fa Yao; Kellen Chen

doi:10.1002/chem.201200012

Thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-based organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Yung Chung Chen, Hsien Hsin Chou, Ming Chih Tsai, Sheng Yu Chen, Jiann T. Lin^*, Ching Fa Yao, Kellen Chen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

New dipolar sensitizers containing an ethyl thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2- carboxylate (ETTC) entity in the conjugated spacer have been synthesized in two isomeric forms. These compounds were used as the sensitizers of n-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best conversion efficiency (5.31 %) reaches approximately 70 % of the N719-based (7.41 %) DSSC fabricated and measured under similar conditions. The ETTC-containing compounds exhibit a bathochromic shift of the absorption compared to their thiophene congeners due to the quinoid effect, however, charge-trapping at the ester group of ETTC was found to jeopardize the electron injection and lower the cell efficiency. Charge trapping is alleviated as the ester group of ETTC is replaced with a hydrogen atom, as evidenced from the theoretical computation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5430-5437
Number of pages	8
Journal	Chemistry - A European Journal
Volume	18
Issue number	17
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201200012
Publication status	Published - 2012 Apr 23

Keywords

dye-sensitized solar cells
electron transfer
metal-free sensitizers
quantum chemistry
quinoids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
Catalysis
Organic Chemistry

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10.1002/chem.201200012

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title = "Thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-based organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells",

abstract = "New dipolar sensitizers containing an ethyl thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2- carboxylate (ETTC) entity in the conjugated spacer have been synthesized in two isomeric forms. These compounds were used as the sensitizers of n-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best conversion efficiency (5.31 %) reaches approximately 70 % of the N719-based (7.41 %) DSSC fabricated and measured under similar conditions. The ETTC-containing compounds exhibit a bathochromic shift of the absorption compared to their thiophene congeners due to the quinoid effect, however, charge-trapping at the ester group of ETTC was found to jeopardize the electron injection and lower the cell efficiency. Charge trapping is alleviated as the ester group of ETTC is replaced with a hydrogen atom, as evidenced from the theoretical computation.",

keywords = "dye-sensitized solar cells, electron transfer, metal-free sensitizers, quantum chemistry, quinoids",

author = "Chen, {Yung Chung} and Chou, {Hsien Hsin} and Tsai, {Ming Chih} and Chen, {Sheng Yu} and Lin, {Jiann T.} and Yao, {Ching Fa} and Kellen Chen",

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doi = "10.1002/chem.201200012",

language = "English",

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AU - Chen, Yung Chung

AU - Chou, Hsien Hsin

AU - Tsai, Ming Chih

AU - Chen, Sheng Yu

AU - Lin, Jiann T.

AU - Yao, Ching Fa

AU - Chen, Kellen

PY - 2012/4/23

Y1 - 2012/4/23

N2 - New dipolar sensitizers containing an ethyl thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2- carboxylate (ETTC) entity in the conjugated spacer have been synthesized in two isomeric forms. These compounds were used as the sensitizers of n-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best conversion efficiency (5.31 %) reaches approximately 70 % of the N719-based (7.41 %) DSSC fabricated and measured under similar conditions. The ETTC-containing compounds exhibit a bathochromic shift of the absorption compared to their thiophene congeners due to the quinoid effect, however, charge-trapping at the ester group of ETTC was found to jeopardize the electron injection and lower the cell efficiency. Charge trapping is alleviated as the ester group of ETTC is replaced with a hydrogen atom, as evidenced from the theoretical computation.

AB - New dipolar sensitizers containing an ethyl thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2- carboxylate (ETTC) entity in the conjugated spacer have been synthesized in two isomeric forms. These compounds were used as the sensitizers of n-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best conversion efficiency (5.31 %) reaches approximately 70 % of the N719-based (7.41 %) DSSC fabricated and measured under similar conditions. The ETTC-containing compounds exhibit a bathochromic shift of the absorption compared to their thiophene congeners due to the quinoid effect, however, charge-trapping at the ester group of ETTC was found to jeopardize the electron injection and lower the cell efficiency. Charge trapping is alleviated as the ester group of ETTC is replaced with a hydrogen atom, as evidenced from the theoretical computation.

KW - dye-sensitized solar cells

KW - electron transfer

KW - metal-free sensitizers

KW - quantum chemistry

KW - quinoids

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JO - Chemistry - A European Journal

JF - Chemistry - A European Journal

IS - 17

ER -

Thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-based organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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