Electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical properties, and application in dye-sensitized solar cells of novel symmetric and A3B-Type unsymmetrical phthalocyanines containing bromonaphthalene groups

Abstract

This research focuses on the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of innovative symmetric and unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine (A3B) complexes, as well as their application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The newly synthesized dyes were characterized using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR), Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), along with electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques. The photovoltaic performance of DSSCs based on these complexes was systematically evaluated through current density-voltage (J-V) characteristics and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The achieved outcome is 5.28 % maximum efficiency for the unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine (AsZnPc) (6) device, compared to 3.27 % for the symmetric zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) (4) device. Furthermore, a higher electron lifetime (2.08 ms) for the AsZnPc device was obtained in EIS, indicating enhanced inhibition of reverse reactions. Additionally, cell stability was tested by performing Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) and EIS analyses across 50 cycles under 100 mW/cm2 illumination (1.5 AM) in ambient conditions.