Efficient electron transfer and sensitizer regeneration in stable pi-extended tetrathiafulvalene-sensitized solar cells

J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Apr 14;132(14):5164-9. doi: 10.1021/ja909291h.

Abstract

The development of metal-free organic sensitizers is a key issue in dye-sensitized solar cell research. We report successful photovoltaic conversion with a new class of stable tetrathiafulvalene derivatives, showing surprising electrochemical and kinetic properties. With time-resolved spectroscopy we could observe highly efficient regeneration of the photo-oxidized tetrathiafulvalene sensitizers, which were attached to a mesoporous TiO(2) film, by a redox mediator in the pores (iodide/tri-iodide), even though the measured driving force for regeneration was only approximately 150 mV. This important proof-of-concept shows that sensitizers with a small driving force, i.e. the oxidation potential of the sensitizer is separated from the redox potenial of the mediator by as little as 150 mV, can operate functionally in dye-sensitized solar cells and eventually aid to reduce photovoltage losses due to poor energetic alignment of the materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrons*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Kinetics
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Porosity
  • Solar Energy*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry

Substances

  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium
  • tetrathiafulvalene