Photoemission Studies on N-Substituted Dithienylated Phenothiazines

Dithienylated phenothiazines (DTPTs) with different functional groups attached to the central nitrogen atom are presented as a class of versatile metal-free chromophores for the design of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The electronic characteristics of spin-coated thin films on polycrystalline gold were studied using photoelectron spectroscopy assisted by theoretical calculations, scanning force microscopy, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Complementary fluorescence spectra show light emission in the blue region (465 nm). The absorption properties and good hole-transporting abilities make DTPTs feasible hole-transporting materials (HTM) and metal-free chromophores in UV-sensitive solar cell designs.