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Shang Y, Zhang Z, Huang M, Shu N, Luo H, Cao Q, Fan B, Han Y, Fang M, Wu Y, Xu J. Computational study of the photophysical properties and electronic structure of iridium(III) photosensitizer complexes with electron-withdrawing groups. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:32666-32674. [PMID: 38010916 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04900k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
A series of novel [Ir(tpy)(btp)Cl]+ complexes (Ir1-Ir4) have been reported to show excellent performance as photosensitizers. The introduction of electron-withdrawing groups increases visible light absorption and the lifetime of triplet states. To improve the photophysical properties, we theoretically design Ir5-Ir9 with electron-withdrawing groups (Cl, F, COOH, CN and NO2). Surprisingly, our findings indicate that the photosensitizer performance does not strictly increase with the electron-withdrawing ability of the substituents. In this work, the geometric and electronic structures, transition features, and photophysical properties of Ir1-Ir9 are investigated. The natural transition orbital (NTO) analysis indicates that the T1 and T2 states play a role in the photochemical pathways. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra and charge-transfer spectra (CTS) have been investigated to show that the introduction of electron-withdrawing groups not only improves the visible light absorbing ability, but also changes the nature of electron excitation, providing a future molecular design strategy for similar series of photosensitizers. The rates of (reverse) intersystem crossing and the Huang-Rhys factors are evaluated to interpret the experimental results within the framework of Marcus theory. For complexes Ir1-Ir7, the introduction of electron-withdrawing groups leads to a lower efficiency of reverse intersystem crossing and a strong non-radiative process T2 → T1, resulting in a long triplet lifetime and excellent performance as a photosensitizer. Furthermore, some newly designed complexes (Ir7-Ir9) show great potential as thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters, contrary to our initial expectations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Shang
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Design, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Zhoujie Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Mengping Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Na Shu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Hanyu Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Qiyan Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Bingbing Fan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Yu Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Min Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Yong Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Numerical Simulation of Large-Scale Complex Systems and School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Jiawei Xu
- Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, P. R. China.
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
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Beedri N, Dani G, Gaikwad M, Pathan HM, Salunke-Gawali S. Comparative Study of TiO 2, ZnO, and Nb 2O 5 Photoanodes for Nitro-Substituted Naphthoquinone Photosensitizer-Based Solar Cells. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:38748-38765. [PMID: 37867677 PMCID: PMC10586449 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
This research focuses on the first demonstration of NO2Lw (2-hydroxy-3-nitronaphthalene-1,4-dione) as a photosensitizer and TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 as photoanode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The metal-free organic photosensitizer (i.e., nitro-group-substituted naphthoquinone, NO2Lw) was synthesized for this purpose. As a photoanode material, metal oxides, such as TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5, were selected. The synthesized NO2Lw contains an electron-withdrawing group (-NO2) and anchoring groups (-OH) that exhibit absorption in the visible range. The UV-visible absorbance spectrum of NO2Lw demonstrates the absorption ascribed to ultraviolet and visible region charge transfer. The NO2Lw interacts with the TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanode, as shown by bathochromic shifts in wavelengths in the photosensitizer-loaded TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanodes. FT-IR analysis also studied the bonding interaction between NO2Lw and TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanode material. The TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanodes loaded with NO2Lw exhibit a shift in the wavenumber of the functional groups, indicating that these groups were involved in loading the NO2Lw photosensitizer. The amount of photosensitizer loading was calculated, showing that TiO2 has higher loading than ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes; this factor may constitute an increased JSC value of the TiO2 photoanode. The device performance is compared using photocurrent-voltage (J-V) curves; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement examines the device's charge transport. The TiO2 photoanode showed higher performance than the ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes in terms of photoelectrochemical properties. When compared to ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes-based DSSCs, the TiO2 photoanode Bode plot shows a signature frequency peak corresponding to electron recombination rate toward the low-frequency region, showing that TiO2 has a greater electron lifetime than ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes based DSSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niyamat
I. Beedri
- Department
of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Gaurav Dani
- Department
of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Manisha Gaikwad
- Department
of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Habib M. Pathan
- Advanced
Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
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Small Molecules Containing Amphoteric Imidazole Motifs as Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: An Overview. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2022; 380:49. [PMID: 36123408 DOI: 10.1007/s41061-022-00404-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Organic dyes, porphyrins and inorganic complexes containing imidazole (IM) motifs have been demonstrated as a new class of sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Particularly, the amphoteric nature of IM-based motifs allows them to be used as donors (D), auxiliary donors (DA), linker/branch (π), or acceptors (A) in D-π-A-based organic dyes and porphyrins and also employed as cyclometalated heteroleptic and ancillary ligands in the Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes for DSSCs. It is noteworthy that the introduction of IM chromophores in the dyes of D-π-A configuration can improve the light-harvesting properties and prohibit the charge recombination reactions due to the extension of the π-conjugated structures and hydrophobic nature. Similarly, in the case of inorganic complexes, the presence of IM motifs as ligands can improve the light-harvesting ability, give facilely tuned HOMO and LUMO energy levels, increase the charge recombination resistance and photostability. This results in enhanced photocurrent (JSC) and photovoltage (VOC) and consequently solar-to-power conversion efficiency (η) of DSSC devices based on Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes. Considering the interesting DSSC applications of IM-derived molecules, in this review, we therefore comprehensively discuss their photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties reported so far and establish their structure-activity relationship to further advance the η of DSSCs. To the best of our knowledge, there is no such a review interpreting the importance of molecules possessing IM-motifs for DSSC applications to date.
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Saadmim F, Forhad T, Sikder A, Ghann W, M. Ali M, Sitther V, Ahammad AJS, Subhan MA, Uddin J. Enhancing the Performance of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Silver Nanoparticles Modified Photoanode. Molecules 2020; 25:E4021. [PMID: 32899213 PMCID: PMC7504805 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25174021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized, characterized, and applied to a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) to enhance the efficiency of solar cells. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized with UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The silver nanoparticles infused titanium dioxide film was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The performance of DSSC fabricated with silver nanoparticle-modified photoanode was compared with that of a control group. The current and voltage characteristics of the devices as well as the electrochemical impedance measurements were also carried out to assess the performance of the fabricated solar cells. The solar-to-electric efficiency of silver nanoparticles based DSSC was 1.76%, which is quite remarkable compared to the 0.98% realized for DSSC fabricated without silver nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizah Saadmim
- Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA; (F.S.); (T.F.); (A.S.); (W.G.)
| | - Taseen Forhad
- Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA; (F.S.); (T.F.); (A.S.); (W.G.)
| | - Ahmed Sikder
- Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA; (F.S.); (T.F.); (A.S.); (W.G.)
| | - William Ghann
- Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA; (F.S.); (T.F.); (A.S.); (W.G.)
| | - Meser M. Ali
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA;
| | - Viji Sitther
- School of Computer, Morgan State University, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA;
| | | | - Md. Abdus Subhan
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh;
| | - Jamal Uddin
- Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA; (F.S.); (T.F.); (A.S.); (W.G.)
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