Abstract
Four novel 3-aryl-2-cyano-N'-(4-(diphenylamino)benzylidene)acrylohydrazide dyes 5–8 were developed, synthesized, and evaluated as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The novel dyes are based on triphenylamine as a strong donor moiety conjugated with different acceptor/anchoring moieties. From their DSSC performance, the power conversion efficiency values (PCE) of the compounds were as follows: compound 5 (2.49%); compound 6 (3.46%); compound 7 (3.68%); compound 8 (5.60%); and standard compound N719 (6.95%). As indicated by the results, compound 8 shows the highest results compared to the other compounds. As a result, compound 8 gave a reasonable result when applied in DSSCs and its efficiency is close to the standard dye. It was used as a co-sensitizer along with N719 to improve the properties of the N719 dye. Using compound 8 in conjunction with the standard dye improved the photovoltaic performance of N719. Interestingly, devices that rely on the compound 8 + N719 co-sensitization approach had greater photocurrent and photovoltage than the standard N719 dye, generating a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.80%. This improved performance was mostly due to the improved JSC and VOC values.
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•Design and synthesis of new acrylohydrazides (5–8) for dye-sensitized solar cells.•As a sensitizer, dye 8 showed the highest power conversion efficiency of 5.60%.•Over co-sensitization, the power conversion efficiency of dye 8 improved to 9.80%.