Photovoltage enhancement from cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals and 4-tert-butylpyridine in Co(II/III) mediated dye-sensitized solar cells

Chem Commun (Camb). 2013 Oct 14;49(80):9101-3. doi: 10.1039/c3cc43892a. Epub 2013 Aug 29.

Abstract

Two cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals (LCs), 5CB (4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl) and 8CB (4-cyano-4'-octylbiphenyl), are introduced as additives into Co(II/III) electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). An electrolyte containing a combination of these LCs and 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP) exhibits higher photovoltage than one with only TBP, resulting in higher power conversion efficiency.