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Design of (2Z)-2-cyano-2-[2-[(E)-2-[5-[(E)-2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)vinyl]-2-thienyl]vinyl]pyran-4-ylidene]acetic acid derivatives as D-π-A dye sensitizers in molecular photovoltaics: a density functional theory approach

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Abstract

The use of computational methods such as density functional theory (DFT) in material design has attracted considerable attention aimed at achieving efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A series of novel (2Z)-2-cyano-2-[2-[(E)-2-[5-[(E)-2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)vinyl]-2-thienyl]vinyl]pyran-4-ylidene]acetic acid derivatives were simulated using DFT and time-dependent DFT for calculations of molecular properties, electronic properties, optical properties, population analysis, global reactivity indices and light harvesting efficiency (LHE). The results showed that incorporation of an F/CH3 substituent on the acceptor unit increased/decreased the charge density on the acceptor unit, thereby increasing/lowering its tendency to accept electrons from the donor unit through a π-conjugated linker due to the electron-withdrawing/electron-donating effect of F/CH3; this ultimately increased/decreased the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) energy band gap (Eg). The para-amino substituents on the donor unit drastically increased the natural bond orbital (NBO) charges of both the donor and acceptor units of the dyes, i.e. para-CH3 < para-NH2 < para-N(CH3)2; this agreed well with the ordering of the band gap. Generally, dyes with para-N(CH3)2 on the donor subunit have longer light absorption wavelengths, a low Eg and a high LHE, which could lead to enhancement of the photocurrent and charge transfer in DSSCs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

    Banjo Semire, Abel Oyebamiji & Olusegun Ayobami Odunola

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  1. Banjo Semire
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  2. Abel Oyebamiji
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  3. Olusegun Ayobami Odunola
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Correspondence to Banjo Semire.

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Semire, B., Oyebamiji, A. & Odunola, O.A. Design of (2Z)-2-cyano-2-[2-[(E)-2-[5-[(E)-2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)vinyl]-2-thienyl]vinyl]pyran-4-ylidene]acetic acid derivatives as D-π-A dye sensitizers in molecular photovoltaics: a density functional theory approach. Res Chem Intermed 42, 4605–4619 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-015-2303-z

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