Structure–Property Relationship Study of Donor and Acceptor 2,6‐Disubstituted BODIPY Derivatives for High Performance Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Seven donor and acceptor 2,6‐disubstituted 4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) dyes have been synthesized and characterized. Including MPBTCA, which is a known compound, the seven BODIPY dyes have been characterized by varied physical methods, such as UV/Visible absorption spectroscopy, low energy photo‐electron spectroscopy (AC‐2), and HOMO‐LUMO DFT/TDDFT calculation. All seven BODIPY dyes have absorption λmax around 535–545 nm, which is significantly longer than 499 nm of 4,4‐difluoro‐1,3,5,7,8‐pentamethyl‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (PM 546). Having structural variation on donor group, acceptor group, donor π‐spacer, acceptor π‐spacer, and the substituent on boron, some BODIPY dyes exhibit small extinction coefficients or spectral integrals in solution (MPCtBTCA, MPBT‐pyO, MPBTT‐pyO, MTBTCA), broadening absorption spectral profile (MTBTCA), weak intramolecular charge transfer characteristics (MPBT‐pyO, MPBTT‐pyO, MTBTCA), too low LUMO energy level (PPBTCA), or insufficient dye‐uptake by TiO2 FTO (MPBT‐pyO, MPBTT‐pyO, MTBTCA). Two of the seven BODIPY dyes, MPBTCA and MPBTTCA, do not show the adverse properties like other BODIPY dyes. With our improved TiO2 FTO (fluorine doped tin oxide) dyeing method, namely a solution dropping method, high performance dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been realized by MPBTCA and MPBTTCA photosensitizers. Power conversion efficiencies of 6.3 and 6.4 % have been achieved by MPBTCA and MPBTTCA DSCs, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, MPBTCA and MPBTTCA are the most efficient dyes for the donor and acceptor 2,6‐disubstituted BODIPY DSCs so far. Dyeing to meet you: A series of 2,6‐disubstituted BODIPY derivatives have been synthesized and characterized, and subsequently tested for use in dye‐sensitized solar cells. Theoretical calculations and spectroscopic data suggest reasons for the improved performance, including a power conversion efficiency as high as 6.4% for MPBTTCA.