Enhancing Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells by Coinage Metal Doping of Cyanidin-Silver Trimer Hybrids at TiO Support Based on Theoretical Study.

Identification of a natural-based sensitizer with optimal stability and efficiency for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) application remains a challenging task. Previously, we proposed a new class of sensitizers based on bio-nano hybrids. These systems composed of natural cyanidin dyes interacting with silver nanoclusters (NCs) have demonstrated enhanced opto-electronic and photovoltaic properties.

Design of J-aggregates-like oligomers built from squaraine dyes exhibiting transparency in the visible regime and high fluorescence quantum yield in the NIR region.

New materials for transparent luminescent solar concentrators (TLSCs) are of large interest. Therefore, we investigated the optical properties of J-aggregates-like oligomers (hereinafter referred to as J-aggregates) based on covalently bound squaraine dyes in toluene solvent using DFT and TD-DFT methods. In addition, the rate constants needed for the prediction of fluorescence quantum yield (QY) have been calculated using Fermi's Golden rule and vertical harmonic approximation (VH) for ground and excited states.

Model systems for dye-sensitized solar cells: cyanidin-silver nanocluster hybrids at TiO support.

Theoretical study of structural, optical, and photovoltaic properties of novel bio-nano hybrids (dye-nanocluster), as well as at TiO surface model support is presented in the context of the application for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). A group of anthocyanidin dyes (pelargonidin, cyanidin, delphinidin, peonidin, petunidin, and malvidin) represented by cyanidin covalently bound to silver nanoclusters (NCs) with even or odd number of valence electrons have been investigated using DFT and TDDFT approach. The key role of nanoclusters as acceptors in hybrids cyanidin-NC has been shown.