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Item New carbazole based metal-free organic dyes with D-?-A-?-A architecture for DSSCs: Synthesis, theoretical and cell performance studies(Elsevier Ltd, 2017) Naik, P.; Elmorsy, M.R.; Su, R.; Babu, D.D.; El-Shafei, A.; Vasudeva Adhikari, A.V.Herein we report the design, synthesis and photovoltaic performance studies of three new D-?-A-?-A architectured organic chromophores (N1-3) derived from (Z)-3-(9-hexyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-(thiophen-2-yl) acrylonitrile scaffold. In the new design, the electron rich carbazole unit is connected to three different electron withdrawing/anchoring species, viz. cyano acetic acid, rhodanine-3-acetic acid and barbituric acid via cyano vinyl thiophene as ?-spacer. Newly synthesized dyes were characterized by spectral, photophysical and electrochemical analyses. Their optical band-gap, GSOP and ESOP values, as calculated from the optical and CV studies were found to be in the range of 2.12–2.21, ?5.52 to ?5.43 and ?5.40 to ?3.25 eV respectively. The DFT and TD-DFT studies were performed using Turbomole 7.1V software and the results indicated the existence of proper charge separation between HOMO and LUMO levels of the dyes. Also, the results revealed good matching of theoretically generated optical spectral data with the experimental values. Finally, DSSC devices were fabricated using these three dyes and the dye N1 containing cyanoacetic acid as an acceptor unit showed better photo conversion efficiency (?) of 3.55% than the other two dyes. It's JSC, VOC, and IPCE parameters were shown to be 9.06 mA cm?2, 0.577 V and 48%, respectively. The obtained EIS data and electron lifetimes of N1–3 sensitized devices are well in accordance with experimental photovoltaic parameters. © 2017 Elsevier LtdItem Molecular design and theoretical investigation of new metal-free heteroaromatic dyes with D-?-A architecture as photosensitizers for DSSC application(Elsevier B.V., 2017) Naik, P.; Su, R.; Elmorsy, M.R.; Babu, D.D.; El-Shafei, A.; Vasudeva Adhikari, A.Herein, we report design, synthesis and photovoltaic performance of four new metal-free heteroaromatic dyes (P1-4) with D-?-A architecture carrying electron donating carbazole core connected to four different electron withdrawing/anchoring groups, viz. cyanoacetic acid, rhodanine-3-acetic acid, barbituric acid and thiobarbituric acid and phenylene ring as a ?-spacer. The newly designed P1-4 were synthesized from carbazole derivative using Suzuki cross coupling approach followed by Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Their structures were confirmed by FTIR, NMR, Mass spectral and elemental analyses. The dyes were subjected to optical and electrochemical studies in order to investigate their absorption/emission behavior as well as HOMO/LUMO energies. The UV–vis spectral studies reveal that the P1-4 showed ?max at 412, 439, 458 and 489 nm, respectively. Their optical band-gap is in the range of 2.17 to 2.61 eV and fluorescence quantum yield is in the order of 44–70%. From energy level diagram, it is clear that all the dyes possess good thermodynamic feasibility for electron injection into CB edge of TiO2 as well as their regeneration from electrolyte system. The photovoltaic performance studies indicate that among the tested dyes, P1 anchored with cyanoacetic acid displayed the highest IPCE (32%), resulting in improved PCE (1.94%), JSC (4.68 mA cm?2), VOC (0.588 V) and FF (70.3%) values, when compared to other dyes. Finally, DFT studies were performed using Turbomole 7.1 V software to investigate their electron cloud delocalization in HOMO/LUMO levels and theoretical absorption spectral data. The results reveal that the dye P1 showed effective charge separation in its FMO levels, which has reflected in its ICT behavior and hence P1 displayed the improved photovoltaic performance. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.Item Investigation of new carbazole based metal-free dyes as active photo-sensitizers/co-sensitizers for DSSCs(Elsevier Ltd, 2018) Naik, P.; Su, R.; Elmorsy, M.R.; El-Shafei, A.; Vasudeva Adhikari, A.V.Herein, we report the molecular design, synthesis and characterization of three new D-D-?-A configured metal-free chromophores D1-3 for their application in DSSCs as sensitizers as well as co-sensitizers. The new entities comprise carbazole as donor scaffold, 4-methoxyphenyl group as auxiliary donor and three different units, viz. cyanoacetic acid, 2, 4-thiazolidinedione and barbituric acid as acceptor/anchoring groups. Their photochemical, electrochemical and theoretical studies were carried out in order to assess their feasibility as active sensitizers. Further, D1-3 were exploited as co-sensitizers along with NCSU-10 dye. Their photoelectrochemical performances and charge transport properties in fabricated DSSCs were studied. The results revealed that D1 sensitizer displayed the highest PCE of 2.20% among the three dyes. D3 when co-sensitized with NCSU-10 displayed an improved PCE of 8.32% (JSC = 19.25 mA.cm?2, VOC = 0.680 V, FF = 63.7%) while NCSU-10 alone exhibited PCE of 8.25% (JSC = 20.41 mA.cm?2, VOC = 0.667 V, FF = 60.6%). © 2017 Elsevier LtdItem New carbazole based dyes as effective co-sensitizers for DSSCs sensitized with ruthenium (II) complex (NCSU-10)(Elsevier B.V., 2018) Naik, P.; Su, R.; Elmorsy, M.R.; El-Shafei, A.; Vasudeva Adhikari, A.V.Herein, we report the design and synthesis of three new D–A type metal-free carbazole based dyes (S1–3) as effective co-sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) sensitized with Ru(II) complex (NCSU-10). In this new design, the electron rich carbazole unit was attached to three different electron withdrawing/anchoring species, viz. 4-amino benzoic acid, sulfanilic acid and barbituric acid. The dyes were characterized by spectral, photophysical and electrochemical analysis. Their optical and electrochemical parameters along with molecular geometries, optimized from DFT have been employed to apprehend the effect of the structures of these co-sensitizers on the photovoltaic performances. Further, S1–3 dyes were co-sensitized along with a well-known NCSU-10 dye in order to broaden the spectral response of the co-sensitized devices and hence improve the efficiency. The photovoltaic performance studies indicated that, the device fabricated using S1 dye as co-sensitizer with 0.2 mM of NCSU-10 exhibited improved PCE of 9.55% with JSC of 22.85 mA cm?2, VOC of 0.672 V and FF of 62.2%, whereas the DSSC fabricated with dye NCSU-10 (0.2 mM) alone displayed PCE of 8.25% with JSC of 20.41 mA cm?2, VOC of 0.667 V and FF of 60.6%. Furthermore, electronic excitations simulated using time-dependent DFT, were in good agreement with the experimentally obtained results of the co-sensitizers, indicating that the exchange-correlation function and basis set utilized for predicting the spectra of the co-sensitizers are quite appropriate for the calculations. In conclusion, the results showed the potential of simple organic co-sensitizers in the development of efficient DSSCs. © 2017 Science PressItem Carbazole based organic dyes as effective photosensitizers: A comprehensive analysis of their structure-property relationships(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2022) Naik, P.; Keremane, K.S.; Elmorsy, M.R.; El-Shafei, A.; Vasudeva Adhikari, A.V.The present work describes the effect of structural modification of carbazole-based photosensitizers carrying carboxylic acid as a common anchoring functionality, on the photovoltaic parameters of newly fabricated DSSCs. In this study, we have selected our previously reported three carbazole-based derivatives, viz. S1-3 having different structural designs, that is, D-π-A (S1), D-D-π-A (S2), and A-π-D-π-A (S3) with different donor units and π-spacers, but an identical cyanoacetic acid anchoring unit. We have evaluated their optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic behaviors in order to explore their structure-property relationships. Also, the theoretical investigations were performed to obtain a deeper understanding of their HOMO-LUMO levels, charge distribution in FMOs, directional flow of electrons within the push-pull type sensitizers, and optical behavior. Finally, the DSSCs were constructed by employing these dyes as sensitizers without any co-absorbents and the performance of the devices was evaluated by using illuminated current-voltage characteristics. Among the tested dyes, di-anchoring S3 exhibited improved PCE of 3.77 % due to its strong adsorption on the TiO2 surface that resulted in superior VOC of the cell. While the S2 containing electron-releasing anisole as an auxiliary donor exhibited better JSC value leading to the optimum PCE of 3.73 % which is comparable to that of S3. Obviously, these results validate the role of the π-spacer and additional donor of the sensitizers on the overall performance of the DSSCs. © 2021 The Authors. Electrochemical Science Advances published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.