Imine-linked receptors decorated ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells

This study reports the synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of imine-linked receptors decorated ZnO nanoparticles using wet precipitation method. Initially, polymer dye 3 was synthesized using condensation reaction between 2-furancarboxaldehyde 1 and polyethylenimine 2. The decoration of imine-linked receptors on ZnO nanoparticles (sample A) was characterized and investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and dynamic light scattering spectroscopic studies. Further, polymer dye 3 was added to ruthenium chloride (RuCl3) to form a polymer–ruthenium-based composite dye-capped ZnO nanoparticles (sample B). The optical properties of sample A were evaluated by fluorescence and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The samples A and B were further processed to dye-sensitized solar cells using wet precipitation method. The results of observations revealed that the addition of ruthenium–polymer dye molecules increased the light harvesting capacity of ZnO-based DSSCs. A maximum solar power to electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 3.83% was recorded for sample B-based DSSCs with ruthenium–metal complex dye as a good photosensitizer. The recorded photovoltaic efficiency of sample B-based DSSCs was enhanced by 1.36% compared to sample A-based DSSCs.