Di(p-methoxyphenyl)amine end-capped tri(p-thiophenylphenyl)amine based molecular glasses as hole transporting materials for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Three tris(thienylphenyl)amine-based molecular glass hole transporting materials were synthetized, characterized and incorporated in solid state dye-sensitized solar cells. Devices using these compounds as solid hole conductors show relatively high V_oc thanks to good energy level matching between them and the associated D102 indoline dye. However, they yield relatively low J_sc and FF compared to Spiro-OMeTAD based control devices, which is due to an order of magnitude lower conductivity with respect to Spiro-OMeTAD. Maximum solar-to-electrical energy conversion efficiencies of 1.2% under standard illumination condition was obtained. Stability tests of unsealed devices in air under continuous illumination have been performed and devices based on new compounds have kept up to 80% of their initial efficiency.