Two novel branched chain polymeric metal complexes based on Cd(II), Zn(II) with fluorene, thiophene, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and 1,10-phenathroline ligand: synthesis, characterization, photovoltaic properties, and their application in DSSCs

Two novel side chain polymeric metal complexes (PFT-Cd and PFT-Zn) have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. These polymers were found to be good thermally stable and high glass transitions temperature, which indicate that these polymers could be applied as photovoltaic materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The obtained polymers exhibited good photovoltaic property. The DSSCs based on the PFT-Cd and PFT-Zn exhibited a maximum solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) up to 3.37% (Jsc = 7.27 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.67 V, and FF = 0.69) and 3.01% (Voc = 0.72 V, Jsc = 6.10 mA/cm2, FF = 0.69) under simulated AM 1.5 G solar irradiation (90–95 mW/cm2). The result shows that these novel materials are suitable for the dye-sensitized solar cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.