Improved Dye Regeneration through Addition of a Triphenylamine Electron Donor in Iodide-Based Electrolytes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The addition of a small organic electron donor, tris(p-anisyl)amine (TPAA), to an iodide/triiodide electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells was found give pronounced effects on charge transfer reactions. When using the dye LEG4 as sensitizer, improved cell performance found, which could be attributed extremely rapid regeneration reaction when TPAA is added. In contrast, ruthenium N719, no significant improvement despite regeneration. Using transient absorption measurements, it that reduction intermediate TPAA+ by iodide sluggish. This allows recombination electrons in TiO2 adsorbed layer does not have sufficient electron-blocking properties.