The design, synthesis, and characterization of D-π-A-π-A type organic dyes as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

New D-π-A-π-A type organic dyes were synthesized and characterized as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These dyes showed wide absorption spectra (300–625 nm) and high molar extinction coefficients (ε467 nm = 60,911 M−1 cm−1). As dye sensitizers in DSSC, the D-π-A-π-A dye having a cyanoacrylic acid as an acceptor gave the best cell performance with a short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) of 7.14 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.62 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.72, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency η of 3.19%.