Azines as unconventional anchoring groups for dye-sensitized solar cells: The first decade of research advances and a future outlook. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verbitskiy, Egor V.; Rusinov, Gennady L.; Chupakhin, Oleg N.; Charushin, Valery N.
• Is Part Of: Dyes and pigments. Volume 194(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Dye-sensitized solar cells -- Anchor groups -- Push-pull systems -- Nitrogen heterocycles; Dyes and dyeing -- Periodicals; Pigments -- Periodicals; 667.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2021.109650
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-7208

Abstract

Abstract: Metal-free organic dyes with push-pull type structures for dye-sensitized solar cells have grate much attraction in the last decade because of their excellent molar coefficient extinction, low cost and easy structural tuning. One of the main parts of these sensitizers is anchoring groups which provided an electron injection into metal oxide semiconductor. Although carboxylic acid and cyanoacrylic acid are widely used traditional anchoring groups, since 2010 the pioneering work of Harima, Ooyama and co-authors was proposed using pyridine derivatives as electron-withdrawing anchors. In recent years, amazing progress has been recently made, and overall photoconversion efficiencies of up to 10% were obtained for devices with sensitizers based on various azines as unconventional anchoring groups. Much higher results with effectiveness values exceeding 17% were achieved by perovskite solar cells featuring azine-based push-pull systems as a hole-transfer bridge or an electron transport layer. The cell performance of the azaheterocyclic push-pull dyes is compared. Also, it is provided with a comprehensive overview of push-pull dyes that contain an azine (pyridine, diazine, or triazine) ring as an electron acceptor part and demonstrated the advantages/disadvantages of each dye kinds. As result, it has been pointed out the fields to reinforce the research trends in the further application of solar cells. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Energy conversion efficiency of azine-based DSSCs up to 10% by a few years. PCE values exceeding 17% were achieved by perovskite solar cells featuring azine-based dyes. Impact of azine anchoring group on overall performance of solar cells is highlighted. Provided valuable suggestions on DSSCs design for the developing trend of highly effective solar cells.