Highly Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Panchromatic Ruthenium Sensitizers with Quinolinylbipyridine Anchors

Panchromatic Ru II sensitizers TF‐30–TF‐33 bearing a new class of 6‐quinolin‐8‐yl‐2,2′‐bipyridine anchor were synthesized and tested under AM1.5 G simulated solar irradiation. Their increased π conjugation relative to that of the traditional 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐based anchor led to a remarkable improvement in absorptivity across the whole UV–Vis–NIR spectral regime. Furthermore, the introduction of a bulky tert ‐butyl substituent on the quinolinyl fragment not only led to an increase in the J SC value owing to the suppression of dye aggregation, but remarkably also resulted in no loss in V OC in comparison with the reference sensitizer containing a tricarboxyterpyridine anchor. The champion sensitizer in DSC devices was found to be TF‐32 with a performance of J SC =19.2 mA cm −2 , V OC =740 mV, FF=0.72, and η =10.19 %. This 6‐quinolin‐8‐yl‐2,2′‐bipyridine anchor thus serves as a prototype for the next generation of Ru II sensitizers with any tridentate ancillary.