High performance dye-sensitized solar cell from a cocktail solution of a ruthenium dye and metal free organic dye

Abstract

A Ru-based dye K-60 and a metal free D–A organic dye Y1 have been employed for the fabrication of a mixed dye sensitized solar cell (MDSSCs) system. The photophysical and electrochemical characterization revealed that the energy levels and absorption profiles of both the dyes are suitable for co-sensitization. We have adopted the cocktail co-sensitization method, in which a TiO₂ photoanode was immersed into a mixed solution of K-60 and Y1 for 12 h. The DSSC sensitized with a mixture of K-60 and Y1 exhibited an overall PCE of 8.19% (J_sc = 14.95 mA cm⁻², V_oc = 0.59 V and FF = 0.71) higher than that for DSSC sensitized with a single K-60 dye (PCE = 6.26%). The higher PCE of the DSSC sensitized with K-60 + Y1 is attributed to the enhancement in both J_sc and FF and related to the high and broader IPCE spectra.