Tris(2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine)cobalt(III) as p-type dopant for organic semiconductors and its application in highly efficient solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

J Am Chem Soc. 2011 Nov 16;133(45):18042-5. doi: 10.1021/ja207367t. Epub 2011 Oct 25.

Abstract

Chemical doping is an important strategy to alter the charge-transport properties of both molecular and polymeric organic semiconductors that find widespread application in organic electronic devices. We report on the use of a new class of Co(III) complexes as p-type dopants for triarylamine-based hole conductors such as spiro-MeOTAD and their application in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSCs). We show that the proposed compounds fulfill the requirements for this application and that the discussed strategy is promising for tuning the conductivity of spiro-MeOTAD in ssDSCs, without having to rely on the commonly employed photo-doping. By using a recently developed high molar extinction coefficient organic D-π-A sensitizer and p-doped spiro-MeOTAD as hole conductor, we achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 7.2%, measured under standard solar conditions (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm(-2)). We expect these promising new dopants to find widespread applications in organic electronics in general and photovoltaics in particular.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Semiconductors
  • Solar Energy*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • tris(2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine)cobalt(III)