New 1, 3, 4-Oxadiazole Based Photosensitizers for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). (26th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mehmood, Umer; Hussein, Ibnelwaleed A.; Daud, Muhammad
• Other Names: Mehta Vishal Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of photoenergy. Volume 2015(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11-26
• Subjects: Photochemistry -- Periodicals; Photobiology -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; Photochimie; Photobiologie; Chimie physique et théorique; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical; Photobiology; Photochemistry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 541.35
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/637652
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1110-662X

Abstract

Abstract : 1, 3, 4-Oxadiazole based photosensitizers with biphenyl, naphthalene, anthracene, and triphenylamine as the electron-donating moiety were synthesized for solar cell applications. In these photosensitizers, cyano groups were introduced as the electron acceptor and the anchor group because of their high electron-withdrawing ability and strong bonding to the semiconductor. Oxadiazole isomers were used as the π -conjugation system, which bridges the donor-acceptor systems. The electrochemical and optical properties of the sensitizers were investigated both in their native form and upon incorporation into dye sensitized solar cells. The results of UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements, and photocurrent voltage characteristics indicate that 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole pi-spacer with the anthracene moiety has the highest efficiency of 2.58%. Density functional theory was employed to optimize the structures of the sensitizers and the TiO2 cluster.