SusChEM: CAREER: Near-IR Absorbing Dyes for Stable Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Devices

在这个由化学系化学结构、动力学机制B项目资助的CAREER项目中，Jared H.密西西比大学化学系的德尔坎普将设计和合成用于将太阳能转化为电能的新型有机材料。该计划将专注于吸收近红外太阳能区域的有机染料的快速合成，并将这种能量转化为染料敏化太阳能电池（DSC）设备中的电能。 这项研究可以更有效地收集丰富的太阳能，并有助于减少我们对不可再生化石燃料的依赖。 作为资助项目的一部分，将开发一个本科生调查课程，以提高对活跃的STEM研究领域（包括太阳能研究）的认识。 本科生和高中生都将被鼓励参与专注于DSC材料开发的原创性研究项目，让他们感受到STEM相关研究的兴奋。DSC领域面临的一个关键挑战是发现有效的敏化剂，用于在750 nm以上的近红外（NIR）范围内转换光。理想情况下，这些敏化剂应该容易获得（少于10个合成步骤），依赖于可持续的有机材料，并利用强锚定功能来促进太阳能电池的长期稳定性。本项目将集中于将前芳香族敏化剂引入DSC设备。已知前芳香族材料通过稳定激发态能级来促进来自低分子量结构单元的低能吸收。此外，将开发多缀合途径支架，用于通过使用多个供体和受体精确调节染料能级。 与敏化剂共轭的多个半导体锚定结构将用于与半导体的强结合和促进有效的电子注入。这些材料的快速合成路线将是一个焦点，C-H活化路线被战略性地用于减少合成步骤的数量。

In this CAREER project funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamic & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Jared H. Delcamp of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Mississippi will design and synthesize novel organic materials for the conversion of solar energy to electricity. This program will focus on the rapid synthesis of organic dyes absorbing into the near-infrared solar region and converting this energy to electricity in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) devices. This research could lead to the more efficient harvesting of abundant solar energy and helps to reduce our reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels. As part of the funded project, an undergraduate survey course will be developed to promote awareness of active STEM research areas including solar energy research. Both undergraduate students and high school students will be encouraged to participate in original research projects focusing on the development of DSC materials, exposing them to the excitement of STEM-related research.A crucial challenge facing the DSC field is the discovery of efficient sensitizers for the conversion of light in the near-infrared (NIR) range beyond 750 nm. Ideally, these sensitizers should be readily accessible (in fewer than 10 synthetic steps), rely on sustainable organic materials and utilize strongly anchoring functionality to promote long solar cell stabilities. This project will focus on the introduction of pro-aromatic sensitizers to DSC devices. Pro-aromatic materials are known to promote low-energy absorptions from low-molecular weight building blocks by stabilizing excited-state energy levels. Additionally, multiple conjugation pathway scaffolds will be developed for precise tuning of dye energy levels through the use of multiple donors and acceptors. Multiple semiconductor anchoring structures in conjugation with the sensitizer will be employed for both strong binding to the semiconductor and to promote efficient electron injection. Rapid synthetic routes to these materials will be a focus, with C-H activation routes being strategically employed to reduce the number of synthetic steps.