Synthesis of ruthenium complex containing conjugated polymers and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The synthesis of two ruthenium terpyridine complexes containing conjugated polymers is reported and their application as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was studied. The polymers were synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction between the ruthenium complex monomer and the fluorene-based comonomer. One polymer was functionalized with carboxylic acid groups on the main chain, which strongly facilitate the anchorage of polymer dye molecules on the electrode surface. DSSCs based on TiO 2 nanoparticles and nanotubes were fabricated. It was found that the ruthenium complexes played an important role in the photosensitization process, and the power conversion efficiencies measured were in the order of 0.1%. Annealing of TiO 2 nanotubes in ammonia gas flow did not result in significant improvement in cell performance. Conjugated polymers incorporated with a ruthenium terpyridine complex are used as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. The role of the ruthenium complexes in the photosensitization process is investigated. Devices fabricated from titania nanoparticles or nanotubes show comparable performance. Nitrogen-doped titania nanotubes do not show a significant improvement in efficiency. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.