Self-Assembled Metalloporphyrin-Substituted Fullerene Photovoltaic Electrodes: Towards Nanostructured Organic Solar Cells

  • Dr Ying Dong, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Australia
  • Susan McGinty, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Australia
  • Mr Matt Griffiths, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Australia
  • Prof David Officer, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Australia
  • Assoc Prof Peter Innis, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Australia
  • Prof Gordon Wallace, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Australia

    • The efficient light-harvesting potential of porphyrins, exemplified by their primary role in photosynthesis, makes them attractive candidates for use as photosensitizers in organic solar cells. In order to enhance the efficiency of light to electricity conversion, substituted fullerenes, which have proven efficacy as electron acceptors in organic solar cells, have been introduced into porphyrin conjugates. Previous investigations into the effect of porphyrin substitutent, functional group position, linker conjugation and binding group on porphyrin light harvesting efficiency has indicated that the β-substituted monoporphyrin carboxylic acid derivative (1) with a conjugated linker shows significant advantage over any multiporphyrin arrays1.
    As part of our efforts to design self-assembled metalloporphyrins for use in solar cells, we have now prepared novel ruthenium(II) porphyrin-pyridyl derivatives (2), (3) and (4) as well as fullerene conjugate (5). Spectroscopic analysis and electrochemical characterisation of the conjugates indicate that they possess the desired characteristics to perform as light-harvesting materials in solar cells. The assembly of the ruthenium-porphyrin conjugates onto ITO electrodes has also been investigated.

    1. Campbell, W.M.; Burrell, A.K.; Officer, D.L.; Jolley, K.W. Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2004, 248, 1363-1379.