Synthesis and photovoltaic performance of the porphyrin based sensitizers with 2H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-c]pyridine and benzotriazole as auxiliary acceptors

Two novel zinc porphyrin dyes containing either benzotriazole or 2H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-c]pyridine as auxiliary acceptors, respectively, were synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells. These two auxiliary acceptors were firstly applied into porphyrin based dyes. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the dyes were investigated. These two dyes show the whole visible light absorption when they are adsorbed on the TiO2 film, which means that they are promising sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells. The absorption intensity of the triazolopyridine containing dye is higher than that of the benzotriazole containing dye, resulting in a better light harvesting. Thus, the dye-sensitized solar cell based on the former dye achieved higher conversion efficiency of 6.65% than the cell based on the latter dye (6.17%) with chenodeoxycholic acid as the coadsorbant. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.