Design, synthesis and study of organic and organometallic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells
The aim of this PhD research work was to design, synthesize and characterize new push-pull chromophores and finally to determine their photovoltaic properties in dye-sensitized solar cells. Two different approaches were developed: i) the first one consists in the preparation of metal-free organic push-pull chromophores based on a carbazole electron-donor part presenting high oxidation potential. These new chromophores were designed in view of being used with electrolytes showing standard potential superior to that of I-/I3-; redox couple ii) the second approach is based on a new concept of ruthenium-diacetylide organometallic complex dyes. These chromophores were developed in order to combine the advantageous properties of a push-pull structure and the charge transfer processes (MLCT) due to the [Ru(dppe)2] metal fragment, also known as an excellent electron relay.