Reduced graphene oxide/carbon black/CuS-based ternary composite cathodes and meso-substituted trans-A2B2 porphyrin dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation places significant strain on the terrestrial environment and is a major contributor to global warming. This study reports on the synthesis of two novel porphyrin dyes for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), an environmentally benign approach to energy generation. The porphyrins, 4,4′-(10,20-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin-5,15-diyl)dibenzoic acid (H2Por) and its copper(II) complex (CuPor), were employed as photoanode sensitizers, while a newly developed CuS-based ternary composite was used as the cathode material. Among the fabricated devices, the combination of porphyrin CuPor and 80% CuS exhibited an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.24 %. This enhancement is attributed to the higher molar extinction coefficient of the metalloporphyrin, better electron injection, efficient dye regeneration and reduced charge transfer resistance at the cathode/electrolyte interface provided by the composite material.