Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties

Norberto Manfredi, Cristina Decavoli, Chiara L. Boldrini, Carmine Coluccini and Alessandro Abbotto
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Norberto Manfredi: Department of Materials Science and Solar Energy Research Centre MIB-SOLAR, University of Milano-Bicocca, and INSTM Milano-Bicocca Research Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milan, Italy
Cristina Decavoli: Department of Materials Science and Solar Energy Research Centre MIB-SOLAR, University of Milano-Bicocca, and INSTM Milano-Bicocca Research Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milan, Italy
Chiara L. Boldrini: Department of Materials Science and Solar Energy Research Centre MIB-SOLAR, University of Milano-Bicocca, and INSTM Milano-Bicocca Research Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milan, Italy
Carmine Coluccini: Department of Materials Science and Solar Energy Research Centre MIB-SOLAR, University of Milano-Bicocca, and INSTM Milano-Bicocca Research Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milan, Italy
Alessandro Abbotto: Department of Materials Science and Solar Energy Research Centre MIB-SOLAR, University of Milano-Bicocca, and INSTM Milano-Bicocca Research Unit, Via Cozzi 55, 20125 Milan, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: A series of functionalized ferrocene derivatives carrying electron-donor and electron-withdrawing (hetero)aromatic substituents has been designed as potential alternative electrolyte redox couples for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The compounds have been synthesized and fully characterized in their optical and electrochemical properties. A general synthetic approach that implies the use of a microwave assisted Suzuki coupling has been developed to access a significative number of compounds. The presence of different electron-rich and electron-poor substituents provided fine tuning of optical properties and energy levels. HOMO and LUMO energy values showed that the substitution of one or two cyclopentadienyl rings of ferrocene can be successfully exploited to increase the maximum attainable voltage from a standard DSSC device using TiO 2 as a semiconductor, opening the way to highly efficient, non-toxic, and cheap redox shuttles to be employed in solar energy technologies.

Keywords: ferrocene; dye-sensitized solar cells; iodine-free electrolyte (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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