Novel dyes with hybrid structure consisting of 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-
s-indacene (BODIPY) and squaraine dye skeletons (
SQB-a,
SQB-b) were designed in an effort to improve photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells in the long wavelength region. These dyes were successfully synthesized through cross-coupling reaction using stannylcyclobutenedione moiety followed by condensation reaction.
SQB-a shows absorption band in the visible region (582 nm), whereas
SQB-b having electron donating groups on BODIPY component shows two absorption peaks in the longer wavelength region (745 nm, 612 nm). The spectrum shapes of these hybrid dyes are not identical to those of individual components, indicating that BODIPY and squaraine components should electronically interact with each other.
SQB-a,
SQB-b, and its precursor
SSQB-b with squaric acid residue work as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. Especially, DSSCs based on
SQB-b and
SSQB-b exhibit spectral response from near-infrared to visible region.
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