Impact of π-conjugation configurations on the photovoltaic performance of the quinoxaline-based organic dyes

Abstract Three novel quinoxaline-based donor-π-acceptor type organic dyes were synthesized and explored as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The impacts of various π-conjugation configurations which contain different quinoxaline derivatives on the absorption properties, electrochemical properties and photovoltaic performances, as well as theoretical calculations have been investigated systematically. The photovoltaic performances of these dyes were found to be highly relevant to the π-conjugated configurations. In particular, the DSSC based on the dye with 2,3-dioctylquinoxaline as the spacer exhibited the highest efficiency of 8.20% with a short-circuit photocurrent density of 17.83 mA cm −2 , an open-circuit photovoltage of 0.71 V, and a fill factor of 0.65, under standard global AM 1.5G solar light condition. However, the DSSC based on the dye with a more conjugated dithieno [2,3- a :3′,2′- c ]phenazine core as the spacer exhibited a lower efficiency due to serious intermolecular aggregation. When the intermolecular aggregation is inhibited, the efficiency can be improved greatly. The results confirm that the configuration of the π-conjugation of the dyes should be considered for the improvement of the photovoltaic performance.