Electron transfer properties of organic dye-sensitized solar cells based on indoline sensitizers with ZnO nanoparticles

Two indoline dyes, coded D149 and D205, were used as the sensitizers of ZnO dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with optimal energy conversion efficiencies of more than 5%, under AM 1.5 full sunlight illumination (100?mW?cm( - 2)). Higher interfacial charge transfer rate and retardant fluorescence decay confirmed from transient fluorescence illustrated that D205-sensitized ZnO DSCs could possess better electron transport than D149-sensitized ZnO DSCs. The enhancement of V(oc) and J(sc) for D205-sensitized ZnO DSCs was ascribed to the effective suppression of electron recombination by extending the alkyl chain on the terminal rhodanine moiety from ethyl to octyl. The evidence of enhanced electron diffusion coefficient was further shown by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).