Novel polymeric metal complexes as dye sensitizers for Dye-sensitized solar cells based on poly thiophene containing complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline with Zn(II),Cu(II) and Eu(III) in the side chain

Novel polymeric metal complexes as dye sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on poly thiophene containing complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline with Zn(II),Cu(II), and Eu(III) in the side chain have been synthesized according to the Stille coupling method and characterized by FTIR, GPC, and Elemental analysis. The UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and the applications in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are also determined and studied. The DSSCs fabricated by PZn(Q)2-co-3MT, PCu(Q)2-co-3MT, and PEu(Q)3-co-3MT exhibit good device performance with a power conversion efficiency of up to 0.56%, 0.78%, and 1.16%, respectively, under simulated AM 1.5 G solar irradiation (100 mW/cm2). They possess excellent stabilities and their thermal decomposition temperatures are 340 °C, 400 °C, and 540 °C, respectively, indicating polymeric metal complexes are suitable for the fabrication processes of optoelectronic devices.