02172nas a2200169 4500008004100000245023700041210006900278260000800347300001600355490000700371520140700378100001801785700002601803700002701829700002701856856011901883 2017 eng d00aPanchromatic sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells: un-symmetrical squaraine dyes incorporating benzodithiophene π-spacer with alkyl chains to extend conjugation, control the dye assembly on TiO2 and retard charge recombination0 aPanchromatic sensitizer for dyesensitized solar cells unsymmetri cJAN a1920–19300 v823 aMetal-free near-infrared (NIR) active unsymmetrical squaraine dyes, RSQ1 and RSQ2, with benzodithiophene (BDT) π-spacer and cyanoacrylic acid acceptor were synthesized by utilizing palladium catalyzed direct (hetero)arylation reaction. Methyl and 2-ethylhexyl groups were strategically placed at the BDT unit for RSQ1 and RSQ2 respectively, to investigate the effect of alkylated π-spacer on dye aggregation on the TiO2 surface and recombination reactions at TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface. These dyes have strong absorption ( ε>10(5) M(-1)cm(-1)) in near-infra red (NIR) region and exhibit similar optical and electrochemical properties as they have same conjugated framework. RSQ2 performed better than RSQ1 owing to its higher open-circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (ff) in spite of having comparable short-circuit current density (Jsc). The panchromatic incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) response was also observed for both the dyes. RSQ2 showed power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.72% with short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 18.53 mA/cm(2), open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.538 V, and fill factor (ff) of 67.4%, without any co-adsorbent. Attenuation of the charge recombination for RSQ2 was revealed by electrochemical impedance analysis (EIS) and open-circuit potential decay transients (OCVD), which attributes to its higher Voc and ff in comparison to RSQ1. 1 aBisht, Rajesh1 aMunavvar, Fairoos, Mk1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/panchromatic-sensitizer-dye-sensitized-solar-cells-un-symmetrical-squaraine-dyes02830nas a2200193 4500008004100000022001500041245013300056210006900189260000800258300001400266490000700280520208100287100002402368700002402392700002702416700003902443700002702482856012702509 2018 eng d a 2192-650600a Homo- and heterodimeric dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: panchromatic light absorption and modulated open circuit potential0 aHomo and heterodimeric dyes for dyesensitized solar cells panchr cNOV a 998-10070 v833 aThe design of dyes for panchromatic light absorption has attracted much attention in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). An approach to enhance panchromatic light absorption utilizes mixtures of complementary light-absorbing dyes as well as dyes with specific anchoring groups that facilitate interfacial charge transfer with TiO2. Dipole-dipole interactions between the dye molecules on the surface broaden the spectrum, which results in decreased DSSC device performance. However, controlled aggregation of dyes results in broadening the spectral profile along with enhanced photocurrent generation. To control the dye-dye interaction, dimeric dyes with different dipole lengths D-1-D-sq, D-sq-D(sq)were systematically designed and synthesized. The photophysical and electrochemical properties were evaluated and the E-HOMO and E-LUMO levels were determined; these energy levels determines the electron injection from E-LUMO of the dye to E-CB of TiO2 and regeneration of oxidized dye by the electrolyte, respectively. The absorption spectra of D-sq-D-sq, D-1-D-sq were broadened in solution compared to model dye D-sq; this indicates that the dye-dye interaction is prominent in solution. In D-1-D-sq excitation energy transfer between photoexcited D-1 and D-sq was explained by using Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The homodimeric dye showed a device performace of 2.8 % (V-oc 0.607, J(sc) 6.62 mA/cm(2), ff 69.3 %),whereas the heterodimeric dye D-1-D-sq showed a device performance of 3.9 % (V-oc 0.652 V, J(sc) 8.89 mA/cm(2), ff 68.8 %). The increased photocurrent for D-1-D(sq)is due to the panchromatic IPCE response compared to D-sq-D-sq. The increased V(oc)is due to the effective passivation of the TiO2 surface by the spirolinker, and the effective dipole moment that shifts the conduction band on TiO2. Hence, the open circuit potential, V-oc, for the devices prepared from D-sq, D-1-D-sq and D-sq-D(sq)were systematically modulated by controlling the intermolecular pi-pi and intramolecular dipole-dipole interactions of the dimeric dyes.1 aSil, Manik, Chandra1 aSudhakar, Vediappan1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aKavungathodi, Munavvar, Fairoos Me1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/homo-and-heterodimeric-dyes-dye-sensitized-solar-cells-panchromatic-light-absorption-and02334nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245011500055210006900170260000800239300001400247490000600261520145000267653002301717653002001740653003101760653003201791653002601823100002801849700003901877700002701916700002701943856012201970 2019 eng d a2574-096200api-Extended cis-configured unsynimetrical squaraine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: panchromatic response0 apiExtended cisconfigured unsynimetrical squaraine dyes for dyese cDEC a8464-84720 v23 a

{Light absorbing sensitizer is the heart of the third generation photovoltaic technologies such as dye sensitized solar cells. Despite possessing large extinction coefficients for the metal-free organic dyes, the light harvesting efficiency is limited with the narrow absorption 20 profile in either visible or NIR regions of the solar spectrum. Though monolayer formation of organic sensitizers on semiconducting metal oxide surface leads to dye-dye interaction that leads to broadening the absorption profile, the contribution of the aggregated state to the power conversion process is found out to be poor. Here, we have engineered far-red active pi-extended cis-configured unsymmetrical squaraine dyes with carboxylic acid and cycnoacetic acid as anchoring groups with controlled aggregation and panchromatic light absorption by including the steric and electronic factors. The presence of sp(3)-C (out-of-plane) and N-alkyl (in-plane) groups played an important role in modulating the assembly of the dyes on the TiO2 electrode; the cis-squaraine unit helps to extend the conjugation in the NIR region besides enhancing the visible transition and the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency profile that showed the importance of anchoring groups for the panchromatic response. Dye PSQ10 showed solar-to electric conversion with an onset of 850 nm with the device performance of 7.0% (V-oc = 0.581 V, J(sc) = 17.06 mA/cm(2)

10acis-squaraine dyes10aDye aggregation10aDye-sensitized solar cells10aextended far-red absorption10apanchromatic response1 aPunitharasu, Vellimalai1 aKavungathodi, Munavvar, Fairoos Me1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/pi-extended-cis-configured-unsynimetrical-squaraine-dyes-dye-sensitized-solar-cells03101nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245017500055210006900230260000800299300001400307490000700321520219200328653002302520653002102543653002502564653003102589653002902620100002702649700003902676700002702715856012902742 2020 eng d a1944-824400aAlkyl-group-wrapped unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: branched alkyl chains modulate the aggregation of dyes and charge recombination processes0 aAlkylgroupwrapped unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dyesensitized cJAN a2555-25650 v123 a

Electron transfer processes at the interfaces dictate the factors that improve the photovoltaic parameters, such as open-circuit voltage (V-oc) and short-circuit current (J(sc)), of a dye-sensitized solar cell device, besides selection of a set of suitable anode, dye, electrolyte, and cathode materials. An inefficient charge injection process at the dye-TiO2 interface and charge recombination at the TiO2-dye/electrolyte interface have detrimental effects on improving both J(sc) and V-oc. Hence, tailoring the factors that govern the improvement of J(sc) and V-oc will be an ideal approach to get the desired sensitizers with good device efficiencies. Squaraines are far-red-active zwitterionic dyes and have a high molar extinction coefficient along with unique aggregation properties due to the large dipole moment associated with them. Here, we report a series of unsymmetrical squaraine dyes, SQS1 to SQS6, with systematic variation of alkyl groups at the sp(3)-C and N-atoms of the indoline unit that is away from the anchoring group to control the dye-dye interactions on the TiO2 surface. The branched alkyl groups help in modulating the self-assembly of sensitizers on the TiO2 surface, besides passivating the surface that helps avoid the charge recombination processes. Light harvesting efficiency and cyclic voltammetry studies of dye-sensitized TiO2 electrodes indicate that the aggregation and charge hopping process between the dye molecules can be modulated, respectively, by systematically increasing the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups. Such a variation in the branched alkyl group helps enhance V-oc from 672 (SQS1) to 718 mV (SQS6) and J(sc) from 7.95 (SQS1) to 12.22 mA/cm(2) (SQS6), with the device efficiency ranging from 3.82% to 6.23% without any coadsorbent. Dye SQS4 achieves the highest efficiency of 7.1% (V-oc = 715 mV, J(sc) = 13.05 mA/cm(2)) with coadsorbent chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) using an iodine (I-/I-3(-)) electrolyte compared to its analogues. An analysis of the incident photon-to-current efficiency profiles indicates that the major contribution to photocurrent generation is from the aggregated squaraine dyes on TiO2.

10aaggregation of dye10acharge injection10acharge recombination10aDye-sensitized solar cells10aunsymmetrical squaraines1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aKavungathodi, Munavvar, Fairoos Me1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/alkyl-group-wrapped-unsymmetrical-squaraine-dyes-dye-sensitized-solar-cells-branched-alkyl03404nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245021300055210006900268260000800337300001600345490000800361520247400369100002702843700002202870700003402892700001802926700001902944700002602963700003002989700002703019856012803046 2020 eng d a1932-744700aUnsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: position of the anchoring group controls the orientation and self-assembly of sensitizers on the TiO2 surface and modulates its flat band potential0 aUnsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dyesensitized solar cells posit cAUG a18436-184510 v1243 a

The position of the anchoring group is systematically changed with a series of alkyl group wrapped donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) based squaraine dyes, 4-SQ to 7-SQ, for the use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By this approach, the orientation as well as the self-assembly of the sensitizers can be controlled on the semiconducting TiO2 surface. All of the dyes functionalized with hydrophobic alkyl groups at sp(3)-C and N atoms of the indoline units that is far away from the TiO2 surface to control the self-assembly of dyes and passivate the surface. Controlling both the orientation as well as the self-assembly of the sensitizers synergistically enhances the V-oc of the DSSC device by imparting the dipole moment on the TiO2 surface and minimizing the interfacial charge recombination process of electrons from TiO2 to the oxidized electrolyte, respectively. Further, the presence of a meta-carboxyl group with respect to the N atom of the indoline donor unit for the dyes 4-SQ and 6-SQ makes them nonconductive for the charge injection process, which sheds light on the importance of through-space electron transfer for the device performance. Emission from the relaxed twisted state was found to be a deactivation pathway for 4-SQ on TiO2 and ZrO2, which revealed the importance of structural factors that promote spatial interaction between the sensitizer and metal oxide surface. Computational studies showed the systematic changes in the dipole moment for the sensitizers 4-SQ, 5-SQ, and 6-SQ upon anchoring to the TiO2 surface. The DSSC device performance varied with the position of anchoring groups in the sensitizers. The DSSC device performance of 5-SQ indicates a J(sc) value of 11.35 mA cm(-2), V-oc of 0.698 V, and ff of 77% corresponding to a power conversion efficiency of 6.08% in the presence of 3 equiv of coadsorbent CDCA, which is nearly 1.5 times higher than 6-SQ (V-oc 0.7 V, J(sc) 7.76 mA cm(-2), ff 76%, and eta 4.14%) and 2.6 times higher than 4-SQ (V-oc 0.658 V, J(sc) 4.42 mA cm(-2), ff 78%, and eta 2.28%). IPCE studies revealed the importance of orientation for the charge injection and self-assembly of dyes, as devices with 5-SQ and 6-SQ as a sensitizer showed 94 and 77% response at 578 nm, respectively, which correspond to the aggregated structure of the dye. Mott-Schottky and IPCE experiments showed that the orientation of sensitizers could modulate the V-oc due to the shift in the flat band potential of TiO2.

1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aMaibam, Ashakiran1 aJavaregowda, Bharathkumar, H.1 aBisht, Rajesh1 aKudlu, Ashwath1 aKrishnamurty, Sailaja1 aKrishnamoorthy, Kothandam1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/unsymmetrical-squaraine-dyes-dye-sensitized-solar-cells-position-anchoring-group-controls02561nas a2200145 4500008004100000245017800041210006900219260000800288300001600296490000600312520200000318100002702318700002702345856004302372 2021 eng d00aAmphiphilic indoline-based unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: modulating the dye-TiO2/electrolyte interface for nonaqueous and aqueous electrolytes0 aAmphiphilic indolinebased unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for dyese cNOV a13932-139420 v43 aA high molar extinction coefficient with sharp absorption properties from the range of visible to near-infrared regions makes squaraine dyes very attractive and potential chromophores for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Here, we report a series of alkyl groups and glycolic chain [triethylene glycol (TEG)]-wrapped amphiphilic indoline-based unsymmetrical squaraine dyes, where the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups and TEG was systematically changed by incorporating the alkyl groups and TEG within the dye molecule for controlling the self-assembly of the dyes on the TiO2 surface and to improve the interfacial properties at the dye-TiO2/electrolyte interface. Due to the same skeletal characteristics, ASQ dyes showed similar photophysical and electrochemical properties in solution. Photovoltaic characterization of ASQ dyes was carried out in nonaqueous and aqueous electrolytes to evaluate the effect of alkyl groups and TEG on nonaqueous and aqueous DSSC device performances. VOC, JSC, and photovoltaic efficiencies were systematically enhanced by increasing the number of carbon atoms of alkyl groups into the dye molecules for nonaqueous DSSCs. Furthermore, addition of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) decreased the charge recombination processes and resulted in enhanced efficiency, VOC, and JSC (enhanced incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency performance) compared to that without CDCA. The ASQ4 dye gave the highest nonaqueous DSSC efficiency of 6.39%, a VOC of 711 mV, and a JSC of 12.18 mA/cm2 with 2 equiv of CDCA in the ASQ dye series. Furthermore, increased carbon atoms in the alkyl groups showed a detrimental effect on the aqueous DSSC efficiency due to the mismatch in the polarity at the dye-TiO2/electrolyte interface, being the reason for the decreased device efficiencies from ASQ2 to ASQ4 dyes. The ASQ2 dye gave the highest aqueous DSSC efficiency of 2.36%, a VOC of 611 mV, and a JSC of 4.75 mA/cm2 without CDCA in the ASQ dye series.1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttps://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.1c0273303019nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245019500055210006900250260000800319300001400327490000600341520212500347653002402472653002102496653002902517653001602546653001902562100002702581700002802608700002702636856012602663 2021 eng d a2574-096200aD-A-D based complementary unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for co-sensitized solar cells: enhanced photocurrent generation and suppressed charge recombination processes by controlled aggregation0 aDAD based complementary unsymmetrical squaraine dyes for cosensi cAPR a3182-31930 v43 a

A series of donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) based unsymmetrical squaraine dyes have been synthesized with indoline and aniline as donor units. The sp(3)-C, N atoms of the indoline and N atom of the aniline donors are appended with alkyl groups systematically to control the self-assembly of dyes on TiO2 and to passivate the photoanode that helps in improving the open circuit voltage (V-oc) of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) device. The resulting dyes, AK1-4, possess strong absorptions between 529 and 541 nm with extinction coefficients of 1.44-1.84 X 10(5) M-1 cm(-1). Photophysical and electrochemical studies revealed that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and highest occupied molecular orbital of the dyes are aligned with the conduction band of TiO2 and the redox function of the electrolyte for the efficient charge injection and dye regeneration processes, respectively. A DSSC device performance for AK4 of 7.93% (V-oc of 815.88 mV and short circuit current density (J(sc)) of 12.4 mA/cm(2)) is obtained, with an incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) response of 92% at 473 nm and 86% at 566 nm without sensitizing with coadsorbent. IPCE studies revealed the equal contribution for the photocurrent generation from the H-aggregated structures. Further, such a high V-oc and DSSC efficiency have been observed first time for this class of zwitterionic dyes with the I-/I-3(-) electrolyte without sensitizing with coadsorbent. The importance of introducing the alkyl groups at the indoline as well as aniline donor units for the synergistic boosting of both V-oc, and J(sc) is compared with the model dye AK1. Complementary light absorbing dyes SQ1 and SQS4 possess absorption at 643 nm with extinction coefficients of 1.4 and 3.0 x 10(5) M-1 cm(-1), respectively. A cosensitized device performance of 9.36% is obtained for the AK4:SQS4 (1:1) combination in the I-/I-3(-) electrolyte. The IPCE profile indicates a good response over 450-700 nm with 94% at 621 nm. The importance of aggregated structures from both the dyes AK4 and SQS4 for photocurrent generation is realized.

10aaggregation of dyes10aco-sensitization10aextension of conjugation10aH-aggregate10asquaraine dyes1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aVeetil, Athulya, Nellur1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/d-d-based-complementary-unsymmetrical-squaraine-dyes-co-sensitized-solar-cells-enhanced02668nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245017400055210006900229260000800298300001400306490000600320520174000326653003102066653004102097653003502138653002702173653003402200653002002234100002702254700002702281856013002308 2022 eng d a2574-096200aIndoline-based donor-pi-acceptor visible-light responsive organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: co-sensitization with squaraine dye for panchromatic IPCE response0 aIndolinebased donorpiacceptor visiblelight responsive organic dy cFEB a1858-18680 v53 a

A series of metal-free indoline-based donor-pi-acceptor (D-pi-A) visible-light active organic dyes, where an indoline unit wrapped with alkyl or alkyl and glycolic (TEG) groups is used as a donor, a mono- or bi-thiophene unit is used as a pi-spacer, and cyanoacrylic acid acts as an acceptor unit, have been designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) application. These dyes showed three absorption bands in a dichloromethane solution: the first and second transitions are observed in the UV (337-385 nm) and visible (477-514 nm) regions and correspond to pi-pi* and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transition, respectively, whereas the third absorption band obtained in the near-IR (629-758 nm) region has been observed for the first time for a D-pi-A type dye architecture. Furthermore, the ICT transition band for AKT dyes showed negative solvatochromism with increasing polarity of solvents. Photovoltaic characterizations for AKT dyes have been systematically studied with a cobalt electrolyte to evaluate the effect of thiophene incorporation and alkyl group substitution by the TEG group on the DSSC device performance. Here, AKT2 showed the highest DSSC efficiency of 3.16% with V-OC of 0.680 V and J(SC) of 6.24 mA/cm(2) without chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) in the AKT dye series, whereas DSSC efficiencies for AKT dyes were not affected much upon further addition of CDCA. Furthermore, AKT dyes were co-sensitized with a complementary optical responsive indoline-based SQS4 dye and showed enhanced efficiency. The combination of AKT2/SQS4 dyes with a ratio of 1:1 showed a maximum of 5.20% co-sensitized solar cell efficiency compared to other dye combinations with the cobalt electrolyte.

10aDye-sensitized solar cells10aindoline-based donor-pi-acceptor dye10aintramolecular charge transfer10ametal-free organic dye10apanchromatic-light absorption10aSolvatochromism1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/indoline-based-donor-pi-acceptor-visible-light-responsive-organic-dyes-dye-sensitized-solar02064nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245009100055210006900146260000800215300001200223490000700235520134700242100002401589700002701613700002201640700002601662700003001688700002701718856011301745 2023 eng d a0031-865500aD-A-D-based unsymmetrical thiosquaraine dye for the dye-sensitized solar cells(dagger)0 aDADbased unsymmetrical thiosquaraine dye for the dyesensitized s cMAR a529-5370 v993 a

In dye-sensitized solar cell, modulating the electronic properties of the sensitizer by varying the donor, pi-spacer, acceptor and anchoring groups help optimizing the structure of the dye for better device performance. Here, a donor-acceptor-donor-based unsymmetrical thiosquaraine sensitizer (SQ5S) has been designed and synthesized. Photophysical, electrochemical, theoretical and photovoltaic characterizations of SQ5S dye have been compared with its oxygen analog, SQ5. The incorporation of the sulfur atom in the acceptor unit of SQ5S dye showed an intense peak at 688 nm, which was 38 nm of red-shifted and showed the panchromatic light harvesting response with the onset of 850 nm compared with SQ5 dye. The LUMO and HOMO energy levels are well aligned with the conduction band of TiO2 and the redox potential of electrolyte for the charge injection and the dye-regeneration processes, respectively. Photovoltaic efficiency of 1.51% (V-OC 610 mV, J(SC) 3.07 mA cm(-2), ff 81%) has been achieved for SQ5S dye, whereas SQ5 showed the device performance of 5.43% (V-OC 723 mV, J(SC) 9.3 mA cm(-2), ff 80%). The decreased device performance for the dye SQ5S has been attributed to the favorable intersystem crossing process associated with the photoexcited SQ5S that reduces the driving force for the charge injection process.

1 aJadhav, Avinash, P.1 aSingh, Ambarish, Kumar1 aMaibam, Ashakiran1 aKrishnamurty, Sailaja1 aKrishnamoorthy, Kothandam1 aNithyanandhan, Jayaraj uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/d-d-based-unsymmetrical-thiosquaraine-dye-dye-sensitized-solar-cellsdagger