Effect of structural engineering of π-spacers on anti-aggregation of D–A–π–A dyes. Issue 33 (13th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hua, Tao; Zhang, Keyi; Huang, Zu-Sheng; Wang, Lingyun; Tang, Hao; Meier, Herbert; Cao, Derong
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 33(2019)
• Page Start: 10379
• Page End: 10388
• Publication Date: 2019-08-13
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c9tc03066b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : SPDF and EIMW act as efficient anti-aggregation π-spacers due to the rigid 'T' configuration of the former and the large steric hindrance of the latter. Abstract : In this paper, the encapsulated insulated molecular wire (EIMW) and 2′, 7′-bis(hexyloxy)spiro[cyclopenta[2, 1- b :3, 4- b ′]dithiophene-4, 9′-fluorene] (SPDF) were specifically designed as efficient anti-aggregation π-bridges for two novel D–A–π–A metal-free sensitizers (IBT1 and IBT2 ). Compared with the reference dyeIBT3 with 3, 3′-dihexyl-2, 2′-bithiophene (DHBT) as an anti-aggregation π-bridge, both the dyesIBT1 with EIMW andIBT2 with SPDF as π-bridges can suppress intermolecular aggregation more efficiently. The π-bridge of SPDF shows the strongest anti-aggregation ability due to the rigid 'T' configuration among these dyes. Meanwhile, the π-bridge of EIMW shows better anti-aggregation ability than DHBT because of the larger steric hindrance of the former. Finally, when the dyesIBT1 andIBT2 are co-sensitized withIBT3, respectively, the new devices exhibit high efficiencies of 7.85% and 7.64%, respectively, which are comparable to that ofN719 (7.85%). The results demonstrate that the dyes with EIMW and SPDF as anti-aggregation π-bridges are promising candidates for efficient DSSCs and dye aggregation can be effectively inhibited by structural engineering of the π-spacer.