Molecular modification of coumarin dyes for more efficient dye sensitized solar cells

Journal Article · Mon May 21 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4711049· OSTI ID:22047213

Sanchez-de-Armas, Rocio; San-Miguel, Miguel A; Oviedo, Jaime; Sanz, Javier Fdez ^[1]

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1. Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Seville, Seville (Spain)

In this work, new coumarin based dyes for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have been designed by introducing several substituent groups in different positions of the NKX-2311 structure. Two types of substitutions have been considered: the introduction of three electron-donating groups (-OH, -NH{sub 2}, and -OCH{sub 3}) and two different substituents with steric effect: -CH{sub 2}-CH{sub 2}-CH{sub 2}- and -CH{sub 2}-HC=CH-. The electronic absorption spectra (position and width of the first band and absorption threshold) and the position of the LUMO level related to the conduction band have been used as theoretical criteria to evaluate the efficiency of the new dyes. The introduction of a -NH{sub 2} group produces a redshift of the absorption maximum position and the absorption threshold, which could improve the cell efficiency. In contrast, the introduction of -CH{sub 2}-CH{sub 2}-CH{sub 2}- does not modify significantly the electronic structure of NKX-2311, but it might prevent aggregation. Finally, -CH{sub 2}-HC=CH- produces important changes both in the electronic spectrum and in the electronic structure of the dye, and it would be expected as an improvement of cell efficiency for these dyes.

• OSTI ID: 22047213
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 136; ISSN JCPSA6; ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
COUMARIN
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL METHOD
DYES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
SOLAR CELLS
VISIBLE SPECTRA