Application of the Tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III)/(II) Redox Couple in p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

An electrolyte based on the tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III)/(II) redox couple ([Fe(acac)3]0/1−) was developed for p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Introduction of a NiO blocking layer on the working electrode and the use of chenodeoxycholic acid in the electrolyte enhanced device performance by improving the photocurrent. Devices containing [Fe(acac)3]0/1− and a perylene–thiophene–triphenylamine sensitizer (PMI–6T–TPA) have the highest reported short‐circuit current (JSC=7.65 mA cm−2), and energy conversion efficiency (2.51 %) for p‐type DSSCs coupled with a fill factor of 0.51 and an open‐circuit voltage VOC=645 mV. Measurement of the kinetics of dye regeneration by the redox mediator revealed that the process is diffusion limited as the dye‐regeneration rate constant (1.7×108 M−1 s−1) is very close to the maximum theoretical rate constant of 3.3×108 M−1 s−1. Consequently, a very high dye‐regeneration yield (>99 %) could be calculated for these devices. Here comes the sun: The use of an electrolyte based on the tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III)/(II) redox couple (green spheres) in p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells resulted in rapid dye regeneration and an energy conversion efficiency of 2.51 %. Devices were constructed using a porous NiO layer (brown spheres) on the working electrode sensitized with PMI–6T–TPA, a perylene–thiophene–triphenylamine dye (red spheres).