Novel TPD-based organic D–π–A dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A novel class of organic D-pi-A dyes employing a N,N,N',N'-tetraphenylbenzidine (TPD) unit as donor was designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells, which achieved a solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (eta) of 5.63% in preliminary tests as compared to 6.42% for N3 dye under the same experimental conditions.