Porphyin-based Photosensitizers
Advisors: Prof. Lingamallu Giribabu and Prof. Gokulnath Sabapathi (Now at IISER-Trivandrum)
Institution: Inorganic & Physical Chemistry, CSIR-IICT (Indian Institute of Chemical Technology)
Introduction
Bi-conjugated aromatic Porphyrin and Sapphyrin macro-cycles for Dye-sensitized solar cells - Designed and synthesized a donor-acceptor moiety designed for harnessing solar energy and conducting it through a dithienopyrrole acceptor onto a nanocrystalline TCO (Transparent conductive oxide) scaffold for use in Dye-sensitized solar cells. The entire system was an expanded Porphyrin moiety called Sapphyrin that utilized the alkene bond as a wire to transmit the harnessed photoelectrons to the scaffold to complete the photovolatic circuit.
Abstract
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells are Third Generation Thin Film Solar Technologies that utilize nanomaterials, photosensitizers, redox couples electrolytes, electrodes, as a system to convert sunlight into electricity in an inexpensive,` unlimited manner. This project has been focused on the design, synthesis and fabrication of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell, which is a cheaper alternative to the expensive Traditional Silicon Solar Cell. We have engineered a Porphyrin based Photo-Sensitizer which releases electrons in the presence of Sunlight. Similar work has been done in the past, but we have focused on developing a novel molecule and tuned it chemically to give better a power conversion efficiency. Efficiency measurements are being conducted simultaneously by another group independent of this study. This is then anchored to a Titania nanomaterial electrode which directs the electrons towards the load to be powered. Once the load is powered, the electrons move to a Platinum Photoelectrode that then releases the electrons back to the Dye Sensitizer through an electrolyte medium. This project covers the Design, Synthesis of the Dye sensitizer, and its characterization.