Synthesis of Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Undergraduate Project

Investigators:  Pier Cirillo, Lecturer of Chemistry, and Gerald McDoom

Sponsor:  Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, 2011

Project  Description:  Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on mesoporous anatase TiO 2 films, also referred to as Grätzel cells, are photovoltaic devices that have attracted considerable attention during the last decade due to the relatively high solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (h) and potentially low cost of production. The aim of this proposal is to improve the efficiency of DSSCs through the synthesis of novel dyes based on organic donor-acceptor compounds such as ones depicted below.

Solar