Molecular Design and DFT Analysis of High-performance Dyes Based on Pyrene with Different Donor Parts and Their Optoelectronic Applications

Abstract

The performance and efficacy of dyes, which are crucial photon-harvesting components in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), must be meticulously analysed at the molecular level. This research focuses on a theoretical investigation of dye characteristics rather than the synthesis of novel compounds. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent DFT (TD-DFT), we have analysed six D-π-A structure dyes designed with pyrene as the π-bridge and various functional groups as donors. Our study examines their geometrical, electronic, optical, electronic localization, and electrochemical properties. The findings reveal that these theoretically designed D-π-A dyes show significant improvements in light-harvesting efficiency, open-circuit photovoltage, electron injection efficiency, and overall photovoltaic performance. The analysis indicates effective electron injection from each dye into the conduction band of TiO₂, followed by efficient regeneration and enhanced intra- and intermolecular charge transfer properties. The incorporation of pyrene as a π-bridge and the use of different functional groups as donors are crucial for facilitating electron transfer from the donor to the acceptor region. Among the dyes studied, the D-π-D modified dye demonstrates superior theoretical performance, attributed to its higher energy levels of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and greater oscillator strengths for excited states. This results in improved intramolecular electron transfer and electron injection into the conduction band of TiO₂, followed by effective regeneration. Overall, our study highlights the potential of these theoretically modeled dyes as highly promising sensitizers for DSSCs, due to their exceptional optical and electronic properties and impressive photovoltaic parameters. These findings position these molecular structures as strong candidates for future applications in organic DSSCs.