Issue 6, 2012

Ru(ii) sensitizers with a tridentate heterocyclic cyclometalate for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A new series of bis-tridentate, thiocyanate-free Ru(II) complexes (TF-21–TF-24), containing the 2-azolyl-6-phenylpyridine cyclometalate, were synthesized. Upon switching from a pyrazolyl to a more electron deficient triazolyl moiety, the oxidation potentials were fine-tuned to readily accept electrons from the I/I3 redox couple, so that the dye regeneration proceeds efficiently amid the device operation. This, together with high concentrations of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide in the electrolyte which accelerates dye regeneration, attains a short-circuit photocurrent density as high as 18.09 mA cm−2 and an overall efficiency of 9.04%. The trifling decrease (3–6%) in efficiency after 1000 h of illumination at 60 °C manifests the high device stability, due to the much suppressed solvent volatility in combination with the robust bis-tridentate structure involved in cyclometalating the 2-azolyl-6-phenylpyridine ancillary.

Graphical abstract: Ru(ii) sensitizers with a tridentate heterocyclic cyclometalate for dye-sensitized solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
11 Jan 2012
Accepted
13 Apr 2012
First published
13 Apr 2012

Energy Environ. Sci., 2012,5, 7549-7554

Ru(II) sensitizers with a tridentate heterocyclic cyclometalate for dye-sensitized solar cells

C. Hsu, S. Ho, K. Wu, Y. Chi, S. Liu and P. Chou, Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 7549 DOI: 10.1039/C2EE21091F

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