Novel D–π–A structured Zn(ii)–porphyrin dyes with bulky fluorenyl substituted electron donor moieties for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Two kinds of push–pull structured (D–π–A) Zn(II)–porphyrin dyes with bulky fluorenyl substituted electron donor moieties were designed and synthesized for use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A high solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 8.46% was achieved with a short circuit current (Jsc) of 15.39 mA cm−2, an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.74 V and a fill factor (FF) of 0.74 for the 2,4-ZnP-CN-COOH dye with HC-A1, which is a multi-functional co-adsorbent previously developed by our group, under 100 mW cm−2 AM 1.5 G simulated light.