Thiophene oligomer based NIR dyes: Photophysical properties and application in dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Oligomers based on thiophene, or oligothiophenes, are the carbon substrates families that show great promise for use as molecular semiconductors in organic electronics. Dicyanovinyl-substituted oligothiophenes (Figure: 1; TH2CN4 and TH3CN4) have shown interesting photophysical properties at NIR region in solution. Both TH2CN4 and TH3CN4 analysed thoroughly and further utilized as a photosensitizer in the Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). The Current–Voltage (I-V) performance of photovoltaic cells is quite inspiring for the future further investigation. Apart from I-V, the cells are also characterized by Scanning electron microscopy and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.