Studies on polymeric materials metal free organic sensitizers for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

This thesis investigates and focuses on the synthesis, characterisation, optical, electrochemical, thermal and photovoltaic properties of dyes used in Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSCs) for improving the Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) of Photovoltaic Cells (PCs). Recently more number of dye sensitisers were used in DSSCs. These dyes were prepared by different synthesis method based on the metal incorporated organic dyes and metal free organic dyes. In the present thesis work many new polymer based metal free organic dyes were designed, synthesized and characterised. This novel redox polymer based molecule frameworks (D-and#960;-A) was employed in different electron donor (D), and#960;-bridge conjugated and electron anchoring/acceptor (A) groups. The redox polymer present in side-chain based molecular structures is improves the sun-light harvesting efficiency. The detail investigation of the polymer dye molecules its design, synthesis reaction mothed and characterisation of FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, Mass spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Cyclic Voltammograms (CV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Incident Photon to Current Conversion Efficiency (IPCE) Analysis and Theoretical molecular orbital (Density functional theory (DFT)) calculations were reported in the thesis. The main motivation for this kind of polymer based dye sensitizers preparation was low cost, non-toxic, easy synthesis, flexible structural framework with good electrochemical, thermal and optical properties for the use in the fabrication of photovoltaic cells with better Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE). newline