Phenoxazine-based organic dyes with different chromophores for dye-sensitized solar cells

A series of organic dyes (POZ-2, POZ-3, POZ-4 and POZ-5) involving phenoxazine were synthesized as sensitizers for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For comparison, three different electron donors namely 10-phenyl-10H-phe-nothiazine, 10-phenyl-10H-phenoxazine and triphenylamine were separately appended onto the 7-position of the model dye (POZ-2). The obtained four dyes exhibit considerably high values of conversion efficiencies of 6.6%, 7.8%, 7.1% and 6.4%, respectively, under the simulated AM1.5G conditions. The geometries of the dyes were optimized to gain insight into the molecular structure and electron distribution, and then the charge extraction and transient photovoltage decay measurements were further performed to understand the influence of electron donors on the photovoltaic behaviors. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.