Volume 215, 2019

p-Type dye-sensitized solar cells based on pseudorotaxane mediated charge-transfer

Abstract

The efficiency of p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) remains low compared to that of n-type congeners due to charge recombination events. We report a supramolecular approach to reduce recombination at the NiO–dye interface, realized by using the cyclophane cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) ring (RING4+/RING3˙+) as a redox mediator and a dye (PN) functionalized with a 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) recognition site, promoting the supramolecular formation of a pseudorotaxane capable of directing charge transfer away from the NiO–dye interface. The binding affinity of RING4+ to PN is high (Kass = 3.4 × 104 M−1), with quenching of the photoexcited dye (PN*) ascribed to reduction of RING4+ to RING3˙+. The reduced RING3˙+ exhibits a lower binding affinity to PN, facilitating exchange with the excess RING4+ present in solution. This supramolecular phenomenon was implemented into p-type DSSCs by anchoring the PN dye on a NiO photocathode in conjunction with the RING4+/RING3˙+ redox couple, yielding a 10 fold enhancement in the short-circuit photocurrent (JSC) compared to control devices utilizing P1 dye or the methylviologen (MV2+/MV˙+) redox couple that cannot form pseudorotaxanes.

Graphical abstract: p-Type dye-sensitized solar cells based on pseudorotaxane mediated charge-transfer

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 nov. 2018
Accepted
23 janv. 2019
First published
23 janv. 2019

Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 393-406

p-Type dye-sensitized solar cells based on pseudorotaxane mediated charge-transfer

T. Bouwens, S. Mathew and Joost N. H. Reek, Faraday Discuss., 2019, 215, 393 DOI: 10.1039/C8FD00169C

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