Synthesis and characterization of simple trans-AB-porphyrins for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Four simple trans-AB-porphyrins 3a–3d either without any alkoxyl substituent, or with a mono-alkoxyl chain at different (ortho and para) positions of the meso-phenyl ring, or with two alkoxyl chains at two ortho positions of the meso-phenyl ring were designed and synthesized via three steps. The synthesis is simple and no expensive metal catalyst is involved. All compounds were characterized by ¹H-NMR and mass spectraometry. UV-Vis absorption spectra and B band-excited fluorescence emission spectra were also obtained. The synthesized porphyrins were applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Up to 3.05% conversion efficiency was realized for 3d under our experimental conditions, attributed to the two long alkoxyl chains present at the ortho positions of the meso-phenyl group. The influences of the position and the number of the alkoxyl chains at the macrocyclic meso-phenyl group on the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs are well explained via DFT calculations. It was shown that the V_OC and J_SC of the sensitizers are determined by μ_normal, ΔG_inject and LHE.