3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene-based cobalt complex: an efficient co-mediator in dye-sensitized solar cells with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) counter-electrode

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. A mixture of Co(phen)3+/2+ and Co(EtPy)3+/2+ complexes, where EtPy is a terpyridine ligand bearing an 3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) substituent, has been used as redox mediator in dye-sensitized solar cells. This combination of cobalt complexes allows an electron cascade leading to enhanced cell efficiency. To explain this result, we propose a synergy between the EDOT-functionalized cobalt complex and the PEDOT counter-electrode, which favors electron transfer and reduces recombination.