Promoting charge-separation in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells using bodipyElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details, electronic spectra, electrochemical characterisation, DFT calculations, J-V curves for 1vs. P1, transient absorption spectra, spectroelectrochemistry of 1/NiO. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cc46133e

The viability of applying bodipy sensitisers to NiO-based p-type dye-sensitised solar cells (p-DSCs) has been successfully demonstrated. The triphenylamine donor-bodipy acceptor design promotes a long-lived charge-separated state which is difficult to achieve with NiO-based devices. The current was above 3 mA cm −2 and the IPCE was 28%. This study demonstrates that a triphenylamine donor-bodipy acceptor dye promotes a long-lived charge-separated state when adsorbed on NiO, making it an efficient sensitizer in p-DSCs.