Benzotriazole-containing D-π-A conjugated organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

A series of metal-free benzotriazole-based dipolar dyes have been developed as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Different heteroaromatic rings such as furan, thiophene, and selenophene, were used in combination with benzotriazole as the conjugated spacer group. Light harvesting, charge recombination, and electron injection of the cells fabricated are affected by the heteroaromatic ring used in the spacer. The DSSC with the thiophene-containing dye has the highest conversion efficiency of 6.20%, which reaches 85% of the standard cell based on N719.