A Broadly Absorbing Perylene Dye for Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

A new perylene sensitizer, ID176, for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) is presented. The dye has the capability for high photocurrents due to strong absorption from 400 to >700 nm. Photocurrents of up to 9 mA/cm2 were achieved in solid-state DSCs employing the hole conductor 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-MeOTAD), with a conversion efficiency of 3.2%. But the sensitizer did not perform well in conjunction with liq. iodide/tri-iodide electrolytes, suggesting a difference in the injection and regeneration mechanisms in these 2 types of dye-sensitized solar cells.