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Fabrication of photovoltaic cells using rhenium diimine complex containing polyelectrolytes by the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly method

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Abstract

A series of poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s polycations incorporated with rhenium(I) chlorotricarbonyl bis(phenylimino)acenaphthene complex and pendant pyridinium side groups was synthesized. Due to the presence of ionic pendant groups, the polymers could be used to form multilayer thin films with sulfonated polyaniline (SPAN) by the layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly process. The rhenium complexes could function as photosensitizers and SPAN could serve as a charge carrying polymer, and the resulting multilayer films form the active layer of photovoltaic cells. Upon irradiation of the photovoltaic devices by simulated AM 1.5 solar light, the power conversion efficiencies were measured to be of the order of 10−4%. Measurement of the incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) at different wavelengths confirmed that the photosensitization was due to the presence of rhenium complexes in the polymer. The photocurrent generation and decay processes could be simulated by triexponential functions, which consisted of a rapid process followed by a relatively slow process.

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Acknowledgments

The work is substantially supported by the Research Grants Council of The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project Nos. HKU 7009/03P, HKU 7008/04P, and RGC CAV Grant HKU 2/05C). Partial financial support from the Committee on Research and Conference Grant (U of HK) is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

    Ka Yan Kitty Man, Chui Wan Tse, Kai Wing Cheng & Wai Kin Chan

  2. Department of Physics, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

    Aleksandra B. Djurišić

Authors
  1. Ka Yan Kitty Man
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  2. Chui Wan Tse
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  3. Kai Wing Cheng
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  4. Aleksandra B. Djurišić
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  5. Wai Kin Chan
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Correspondence to Wai Kin Chan.

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This paper is dedicated to Professor Ian Manners and his scientific accomplishments.

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Man, K.Y.K., Tse, C.W., Cheng, K.W. et al. Fabrication of photovoltaic cells using rhenium diimine complex containing polyelectrolytes by the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly method. J Inorg Organomet Polym 17, 223–233 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-007-9138-z

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