Thiocyanate ligand substitution kinetics of the solar cell dye Z-907 by 3-methoxypropionitrile and 4- tert-butylpyridine at elevated temperatures

The dye-sensitized solar cell dye Z-907, [RuLL′(NCS) 2] may loose a thiocyanate ligand at elevated temperatures (80–100 °C) by ligand exchange with the solar cell additive 4- tert-butylpyridine (4-TBP) or the electrolyte solvent 3-methoxypropionitrile (3-MPN). The mechanism in homogeneous solution proceeds via three equilibrium reactions Eqs. (1)–(3) with the solvent complex [RuLL′(NCS)(3-MPN)] as an intermediate: [RuLL′(NCS) 2]+3-MPN=[RuLL′(NCS)(3-MPN)] ++NCS − (1) [RuLL′(NCS)(3-MPN)] ++4-TBP=[RuLL′(NCS)(4-TBP)] ++3-MPN (2) [RuLL′(NCS) 2]+4-TBP=[RuLL′(NCS)(4-TBP)] ++NCS − (3) A similar mechanism describes the heterogeneous substitution reactions of Z-907 attached to the surface of TiO 2 particles with 3-MPN and 4-TBP. All the six homogeneous and heterogeneous rate constants were obtained at 100 °C by monitoring the decay of Z-907 and product formation in test-tube experiments by HPLC coupled to UV/vis and electrospray mass spectrometry. A half-lifetime t 1/2=150 h was obtained for the Z-907 dye bound to TiO 2 nanocrystalline particles at 85 °C in the presence of 4-TBP and 3-MPN. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) with Z-907 as a sensitizer and application of the so-called “non-robust” electrolytes containing 4-TBP and 3-MPN is therefore not expected to be able to pass a 1000 h thermal stress test at 85 °C. Addition of thiocyanate to the cell electrolyte may however, eliminate or reduce the problems caused by dye thiocyanate ligand substitution in DSC cells.