Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on metal-free and copper(II) phthalocyanine bearing 2-phenylphenoxy moiety

Alamin Ali H. E., Altındal A., ALTUN S., ODABAŞ Z.

Dyes and Pigments, vol.124, pp.180-187, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 124
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2015.09.010
  • Journal Name: Dyes and Pigments
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.180-187
  • Keywords: 2-Phenylphenol, Dye-sensitized, Photovoltaic, Phthalocyanine, Solar cells, Synthesis
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Novel metal-free and copper (II) phthalocyanines containing tetra-(2-phenyl)phenoxy groups were synthesized and characterized. The applicability of these newly synthesised compounds in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photosensitizers was studied. The effect of sintering temperature of thick TiO2 film, the sintering temperature was varied from 100 to 500 °C, on solar cells parameters has also been investigated. The measurements of the effect of sintering temperature on their performance indicated that the annealing process gives rise to a significant increase in the short current density and the photoconversion efficiency. Interesting results were obtained in TiO2 based solar cell sensitized by 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetra-([2-phenyl]phenoxy)phthalocyaninatocopper under optimized conditions. The DSSC devices containing this compound exhibited short-circuit current densities of 12.2 mA cm-2 and solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiencies of 6.81% under AM 1.5 illumination and 100 mW cm-2 irradiation.