TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding why replacing I3 -/I- by cobalt(II)/(III) electrolytes in bis(diimine)copper(I)-based dye-sensitized solar cells improves performance
AU - Fürer, Sebastian O.
AU - Bozic-Weber, Biljana
AU - Schefer, Thomas
AU - Wobill, Cedric
AU - Constable, Edwin C.
AU - Housecroft, Catherine E.
AU - Willger, Markus
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) comprising heteroleptic bis(diimine)copper(I) based dyes combined with either [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+, [Co(phen)3]2+/3+ or I3 -/I- redox mediators (bpy = 2,2′- bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been evaluated. The copper(I) dyes contain the anchoring ligand ((6,6′-dimethyl-[2,2′-bipyridine]-4,4′-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene))bis(phosphonic acid), 1, and an ancillary ligand (2, 3 or 4) with a 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline metal-binding domain. Ligands 2 and 3 include imidazole 2′-functionalities with 4-(diphenylamino)phenyl (2) or 4-(bis(4-n-butoxy) phenylamino)phenyl (3) domains; in 4, the phen unit is substituted in the 4,7-positions with holetransporting 4-(diphenylamino)phenyl groups. The photoconversion efficiency, h, of each of [Cu(1)(2)]+, [Cu(1)(3)]+ and [Cu(1)(4)] + considerably improves by replacing the I3 -/I- electrolyte by [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ or [Co(phen)3]2+/3+, and after a change of electrolyte solvent (MeCN to 3-methoxypropionitrile). Due to the faster charge transfer kinetics and more positive redox potential, the cobalt-based electrolytes are superior to the I3 -/I- electrolyte in terms of open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current (JSC) and η; values of VOC = 594 mV, JSC = 9.58 mA cm-2 and η = 3.69% (relative to η = 7.12% for N719) are achieved for the best performing DSC which contains [Cu(1)(4)]+ and [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+. Corresponding values for [Cu(1)(4)]+ and I3 -/I- DSCs are 570-580 mV, 5.98-6.37 mA cm-2 and 2.43-2.62%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been used to study DSCs with [Cu(1)(4)]+ and the three electrolytes. EIS shows that the DSC with I3 -/I- has the highest recombination resistance, whereas the [Co(phen)3]2+/3+ electrolyte gives the highest chemical capacitance and VOC and, between [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ and [Co(phen)3]2+/3+, the higher recombination resistance. The [Co(phen)3]2+/3+ electrolyte exhibits the highest mass transport restrictions which result in a lower JSC and DSC efficiency compared to the [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ electrolyte.
AB - The performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) comprising heteroleptic bis(diimine)copper(I) based dyes combined with either [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+, [Co(phen)3]2+/3+ or I3 -/I- redox mediators (bpy = 2,2′- bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been evaluated. The copper(I) dyes contain the anchoring ligand ((6,6′-dimethyl-[2,2′-bipyridine]-4,4′-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene))bis(phosphonic acid), 1, and an ancillary ligand (2, 3 or 4) with a 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline metal-binding domain. Ligands 2 and 3 include imidazole 2′-functionalities with 4-(diphenylamino)phenyl (2) or 4-(bis(4-n-butoxy) phenylamino)phenyl (3) domains; in 4, the phen unit is substituted in the 4,7-positions with holetransporting 4-(diphenylamino)phenyl groups. The photoconversion efficiency, h, of each of [Cu(1)(2)]+, [Cu(1)(3)]+ and [Cu(1)(4)] + considerably improves by replacing the I3 -/I- electrolyte by [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ or [Co(phen)3]2+/3+, and after a change of electrolyte solvent (MeCN to 3-methoxypropionitrile). Due to the faster charge transfer kinetics and more positive redox potential, the cobalt-based electrolytes are superior to the I3 -/I- electrolyte in terms of open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current (JSC) and η; values of VOC = 594 mV, JSC = 9.58 mA cm-2 and η = 3.69% (relative to η = 7.12% for N719) are achieved for the best performing DSC which contains [Cu(1)(4)]+ and [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+. Corresponding values for [Cu(1)(4)]+ and I3 -/I- DSCs are 570-580 mV, 5.98-6.37 mA cm-2 and 2.43-2.62%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been used to study DSCs with [Cu(1)(4)]+ and the three electrolytes. EIS shows that the DSC with I3 -/I- has the highest recombination resistance, whereas the [Co(phen)3]2+/3+ electrolyte gives the highest chemical capacitance and VOC and, between [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ and [Co(phen)3]2+/3+, the higher recombination resistance. The [Co(phen)3]2+/3+ electrolyte exhibits the highest mass transport restrictions which result in a lower JSC and DSC efficiency compared to the [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ electrolyte.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015157271&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/c6ta04879j
DO - 10.1039/c6ta04879j
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85015157271
SN - 2050-7488
VL - 4
SP - 12995
EP - 13004
JO - Journal of Materials Chemistry A
JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry A
IS - 33
ER -
