An Indacenodithieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐based Organic Dye for P‐type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells and Photoelectrochemical H2O2 Production

Abstract

AbstractEfficient photosensitizers are crucial for advancing solar energy conversion and storage technologies. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel organic dye, denoted as YB6, for p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells (p‐DSCs) and photoelectrochemical H2O2 production. YB6 features an extended conjugated π‐bridge derived from indacenodithieno[3,2‐b]thiophene and exhibits notable advantages: a two‐fold higher molar extinction coefficient at its main absorption peak and a broader absorption as compared to the PB6 dye. In p‐type dye‐sensitized NiO photoelectrochemical cells, the YB6‐based device demonstrated superior performance as compared to the PB6‐based device. It delivered nearly a 50 % higher H2O2 production over 5 hours. Furthermore, when fabricated into p‐DSCs, the YB6‐based device exhibited a 33 % higher power conversion efficiency. This enhancement is caused by suppressed charge recombination from the dye structure, which in turn may be traced to a larger thermodynamic up‐hill process for recombination losses in the YB6‐based system.