Synthesis of dendritic triphenylamine derivatives for dye-sensitized solar cells

Three new donor-it-acceptor (D-pi-A) metal-free organic dyes, in which dendritic triphenylamine acts as donor, and furan, thiophene and benzene as pi-linkers, were synthesized, characterized and used for the application of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Among the fabricated DSSCs, the device based on the furan as it-linker exhibited a short circuit current density of 14.56 mA cm(-2), an open circuit photo voltage of 0.71 V and a fill factor of 0.59, implying a power conversion efficiency (eta) of 6.10%. The devices sensitized by dyes with thiophene and benzene as it-linker possessed relative lower eta, 5.92% and 4.97%, respectively. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.