Novel extended π-conjugated Zn(II) -porphyrin derivatives bearing pendant triphenylamine moiety for dye-sensitized solar cell: synthesis and characterization

We have designed and synthesized novel Zn(II) -porphyrin derivatives for dye-sensitized solar cells. The derivatives incorporate the electron-donating group of a pendant triphenylamine into cyano-substituted ( [TPA]Zn-Por-CN1 ) or non-substituted stilbene moiety ( [TPA]Zn-Por1 ) in the 5,10,15-meso-position and carboxylic acid group in the 20-meso-position in a porphyrin derivative. Their chemical structures were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis absorption, EI-mass, and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopies. Their electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry measurement. These Zn(II) -porphyrin derivatives have been used to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells based on I-/I2 liquid electrolytes as dye sensitizers and their device performances were evaluated by comparing with that of a standard Ru(II) complex dye. [TPA]Zn-Por-CN1 showed higher power conversion efficiency than that of [TPA]Zn-Por1 , due to a broader absorption band around 435 nm. Short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (η) of DSSC for [TPA]Zn-Por-CN1 were evaluated to be Jsc = 6.3 mA.cm-2 , Voc = 0.737 V , FF = 0.683 , and η = 3.1% , respectively.