Computational studies on optoelectronic and charge transfer properties of some perylene‐based donor‐π‐acceptor systems for dye sensitized solar cell applications

We report DFT studies on some perylene‐based dyes for their electron transfer properties in solar cell applications. The study involves modeling of different donor‐π‐acceptor type sensitizers, with perylene as the donor, furan/pyrrole/thiophene as the π‐bridge and cyanoacrylic group as the acceptor. The effect of different π‐bridges and various substituents on the perylene donor was evaluated in terms of opto‐electronic and photovoltaic parameters such as HOMO‐LUMO energy gap, λmax, light harvesting efficiency(LHE), electron injection efficiency (Øinject), excited state dye potential (Edye*), reorganization energy(λ), and free energy of dye regeneration (ΔGdyeRegen). The effect of various substituents on the dye–I2 interaction and hence recombination process was also evaluated. We found that the furan‐based dimethylamine derivative exhibits a better balance of the various optical and photovoltaic properties. Finally, we evaluated the overall opto‐electronic and transport parameters of the TiO2‐dye assembly after anchoring the dyes on the model TiO2 cluster assembly. Dye sensitized solar cell technology has assumed a special significance over various other variety of energy conversion technologies. Perylene‐based donor‐π‐acceptor dye systems exhibit excellent sensitizing properties and hold a lot of promise for solar cell applications. The quantum mechanical investigation reveals better optoelectronic properties of furan‐based perylene dyes in comparison to their thiophene and pyrrole‐based counterparts.