Organic sensitizers bearing a trialkylsilyl ether group for liquid dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

<div> In this work we present the synthesis, optical characterization and performance of five metal-free</div> <div> sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). All dyes include, for the first time, a trialkylsilyl ether</div> <div> group in the p-conjugated bridge (a thiophene ring). The influence of different donor unities, like triarylamine</div> <div> (TPA), 4H-pyranylidene and dithiafulvene has been evaluated in DSSC with a liquid I3/I_x0001_</div> <div> electrolyte, obtaining the best results with the 4H-pyranylidene moiety. The size and the position of the</div> <div> bulky group have a great importance in the efficiency of the final devices.</div> <div> In order to explain the recombination processes and electron life-time, charge extraction (CE) and</div> <div> transient photovoltage (TPV) experiments have been carried out.</div> <div> &nbsp;</div>