A novel self-assembly with horizontal anchor porphyrin for supramolecular solar cells

Abstract

In this work, employing the meta-mediated assembling strategy for organizing different metal ions (M, M = Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Co²⁺) horizontal anchor porphyrins (MPA) and two antennas molecules (Lx, x = 1, 2) on the nanostructured TiO₂ electrode surfaces have been prepared, resulting in a ZnPA+Lx assembled approach. Further, the assemblies were absorbed on the semiconducting TiO₂ electrode surfaces by the carboxylic groups of horizontal anchor porphyrin, and their photovoltaic performances in solar cells were performed under an irradiance of 100 mW cm⁻² AM 1.5G solar simulator. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cells sensitized by the dyes with triphenylamine group antenna molecule (L2) were obviously enhancement when compared to that sensitized by the dye with dimethylamino group antenna molecule (L1). The results were also verified by the transient photovoltage decay, theory calculations and optical performance. In addition, the assembled modes of the assemblies immobilized on TiO₂ electrode surfaces were also verified by transmission electron microscopy.