A novel main chain polymeric metal complex based on Zn(II) with thiophene and 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole ligand: Synthesis, characterization, photovoltaic property and application in DSSCs

Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have extensive interests in recent years because of their unique advantages: low cost, simple preparation technologies and high efficiency. A novel main chain polymeric metal complex of [2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazolyl]-3-methylthiophene (Bmtp) with Zn (II) was designed and investigated as dye sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This polymer was found to be good stabilities with thermal decomposition temperatures at 292 °C and high glass transition temperature (152 °C), which indicates this polymer could be applied as photovoltaic material for DSSCs. The obtained polymer exhibited good photovoltaic property. The DSSCs based on Bmtp-Zn exhibited a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 1.88% ( J sc  = 4.09 mA/cm 2 , V oc  = 0.65 mV, and FF = 0.71) under simulated AM 1.5 G solar irradiation (90–95 mW/cm 2 ).