Characterization of N, N'-bis-2-(1-hydoxy-4-methylpentyl)-3, 4, 9, 10-perylene bis (dicarboximide) sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells with polythiophene hole conductors

We have fabricated solid-state, dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO 2 solar cells (DSSC) based on perylene derivative dye, N,N'-bis-2-(1-hydoxy-4-methylpentyl)-3,4,9,10-perylene bis (dicarboximide) (HMPER) with two different polythiophenes as hole conductors; i.e. poly (3-octyl thiophene) (P3OT) and poly (3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT), respectively. HMPER adsorbs strongly to the surface of nanocrystalline TiO2 and inject electrons into TiO2 conduction band upon absorption of light. Polythiophene derivatives are well-known materials as hole conductors in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. We obtained quite similar results with P3OT and P3HT yielding a short-circuit current density of around 80 µA/cm2 and open-circuit voltage of around 0.7 V at 80 mW/cm 2 AM 1.5 light intensity. The results are compared with Ru-535 TBA-sensitized nc-TiO2 cells prepared by using the same polythiophene derivatives. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Devlet Planlama Örgütü Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung National Council for Scientific Research NATO A-2This work has been performed within the European MOLLYCELL Project agreement between LIOS and Ege University Solar Energy Institute. We would like to thank T.S.C.F. A.S. for financial support and to all LIOS and Konarka-Austria group for kind help. We acknowledge NATO A-2 support funds of the Scientific Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany. We appreciate the project support funds of Research Center of Ege University (EBILTEM), and the State Planning Organization of Turkey (DPT). -