Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties
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 t...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/15/3937 |
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| author | Norberto Manfredi Cristina Decavoli Chiara L. Boldrini Carmine Coluccini Alessandro Abbotto |
| author_facet | Norberto Manfredi Cristina Decavoli Chiara L. Boldrini Carmine Coluccini Alessandro Abbotto |
| author_sort | Norberto Manfredi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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<sub>2</sub> as a semiconductor, opening the way to highly efficient, non-toxic, and cheap redox shuttles to be employed in solar energy technologies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:02:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61ff6f69b20d4c42a1a2e58e0b2b1958 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:02:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-61ff6f69b20d4c42a1a2e58e0b2b19582023-11-20T08:45:38ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-08-011315393710.3390/en13153937Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox PropertiesNorberto Manfredi0Cristina Decavoli1Chiara L. Boldrini2Carmine Coluccini3Alessandro Abbotto4Department 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, ItalyDepartment 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, ItalyDepartment 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, ItalyDepartment 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, ItalyDepartment 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, ItalyA 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<sub>2</sub> as a semiconductor, opening the way to highly efficient, non-toxic, and cheap redox shuttles to be employed in solar energy technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/15/3937ferrocenedye-sensitized solar cellsiodine-free electrolyte |
| spellingShingle | Norberto Manfredi Cristina Decavoli Chiara L. Boldrini Carmine Coluccini Alessandro Abbotto Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties Energies ferrocene dye-sensitized solar cells iodine-free electrolyte |
| title | Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties |
| title_full | Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties |
| title_fullStr | Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties |
| title_short | Ferrocene Derivatives Functionalized with Donor/Acceptor (Hetero)Aromatic Substituents: Tuning of Redox Properties |
| title_sort | ferrocene derivatives functionalized with donor acceptor hetero aromatic substituents tuning of redox properties |
| topic | ferrocene dye-sensitized solar cells iodine-free electrolyte |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/15/3937 |
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