1. Modification of nonlinear optical dyes for dye sensitized solar cells: a new use for a familiar acceptor
- Author
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Nick M. Bastianon, Janelle M. Leger, Glenn P. Bartholomew, Dinesh G. Patel, Paul Tongwa, and Tatiana V. Timofeeva
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_classification ,Alkene ,Rational design ,General Chemistry ,Photochemistry ,Acceptor ,law.invention ,Dye-sensitized solar cell ,chemistry ,Microwave chemistry ,law ,Solar cell ,Materials Chemistry ,Polar effect ,Isomerization - Abstract
The chemistry of electron deficient π-acceptors offers unique challenges in the rational design and synthesis of organic dyes for use in solar cells. We have synthesized 2-cyano-2-(3-cyano-4-((E)-4-(dibutylamino)styryl)-5,5-dimethylfuran-2(5H)-ylidene)ethanoic acid (2), a dye containing an carboxylated version of the strongly electron withdrawing TCF group by way of stepwise synthesis and isolation of 2,5-dihydro-2-imino-4,5,5-trimethylfuran-3-carbonitrile (5), previously only available as an intermediate available via microwave chemistry. We use this dye to sensitize nanocrystalline TiO2 in order to examine its efficacy in dye-sensitized solar cells. Crystal structures of an intermediate and the final dye are presented and the isomerization about the terminal alkene is discussed in addition to preliminary solar cell data. more...
- Published
- 2011
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