Electronically coupled porphyrin-arene dyads for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

An acetylene-linked porphyrin-perylene anhydride and an acetylene-linked porphyrin-naphthalic anhydride have been synthesized; the highly conjugated acetylenic bridge in these porpyrins efficiently mediates electronic interaction between the porphyrin and perylene units to extend the pi-conjugation of the porphyrin dye and to cause both broadening and red shifts of both the Soret and Q absorption bands. This condition is a useful feature for efficient dye-sensitized solar cell applications. The optical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of the new linked anhydrides show that the HOMO-LUMO gap decreased upon extension of pi-conjugation, indicating a strong electronic coupling between the porphyrin and the perylene or naphthalene unit. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.