5,6,7-Trimethoxy-2-(Methylthio)Quinoline with Different Anchoring Groups: Synthesis And Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

Two new metal-free organic dyes in D-π-A structure, containing a quinoline π-bridge and malononitrile (4a) and cyanoacrylic acid (4b) as acceptors, were synthesized for the first time to apply dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR techniques. The photophysical and photovoltaic properties of the obtained compounds were investigated and compared by current density–voltage (J–V) graphs. Compound 4b containing cyanoacrylic acid as an acceptor reached an open–circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.645 V, short–circuit current density (Jsc) of 6.66 mA cm-2 and fill factor (FF) of 0.70 in the presence of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), showing a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.01%. It is also observed that the incorporation of thiomethyl group to the structure instead of methoxy group increases the PCE.

Keywords

• dye-sensitized solar cells
• metal free dyes
• quinoline
• thiomethyl group