The Synthesis of D-π-D Derivate Phthalocyanines for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell, Investigation of Spectroscopic and Electrical Properties

Abstract

We report on photovoltaic cell devices based on metallo phthalocyanine structures, such as zinc and nickel phthalocyanines (ZnPc and NiPc), which are formed by 4-(Diphenylamino) benzaldehyde containing substituents D-π-D features were synthesized and used for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These novel compounds were characterized by using FTIR, UV-vis, MS spectroscopic data and elemental analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between ZnPc and NiPc morphology and photovoltaic properties are discussed. Among ZnPc and NiPc, the ZnPc-DSSC exhibited significantly excellent photovoltaic activities under radiation of visible light. In this case, photovoltaic cell efficiencies are up to 1.139% for ZnPc, compared to an average of 0.427% for NiPc. Moreover, the ZnPc device prepared at room temperature exhibits relatively higher photovoltaic cell efficiency (PCE) because of the significant improvements in short-circuit photocurrent (J sc ) and open-circuit voltage (V oc ). However, a DSSC assembled with NiPc material due to metallic behavior of nickel in the structures electrochemical reactions run at the interface between NiPc and back contact, which causes electrochemical corrosion of metal. Thus NiPc-DSSC shows lower photovoltaic properties than ZnPc-DSSC.