Synthesis of Near Infrared Quaterrylene-based Dyes for Colourless Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Photovoltaic cells (PV) based on semiconductor technology techniques are, nowadays, the most efficient systems for solar energy conversion. Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) represent one of the best performing technologies developed though their performances are not comparable with the well-known silicon-based photovoltaics cells. Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics (BIPV) based on DSSC are a promising application to make DSSC more attractive in the energy production field. An innovative approach resides on the implementation of colourless DSSCs based on NIR sensitizers such as polymethine and rylene dyes. In this work, we present the synthesis of two quaterrylene dyes to evaluate their application as NIR-sensitizers in DSSCs. Different synthetic pathways were explored to functionalize the rylene core to modulate the photophysical and electronical reequipments and to improve the processability properties of the final materials. The overall photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated. The assemble and study of devices based on quaterrylene dyes is under investigation and the preliminary results will be presented.