A New Factor Affecting the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells in the Presence of 4-tert-Butylpyridine

This study explores a new factor affecting the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells in the presence of 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP) by elucidating interactions between TBP and Ru(H2dcbpy)2(NCS)2 (N3 dye; H2dcbpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid). Combining experimental and computational studies, we reveal that these interactions result from the formation of a hydrogen bond between the oxygen atom of carboxylate groups of the N3 dye and the hydrogen atom of the N-containing heterocycle of TBP. The effects of interactions between TBP and the N3 dye on Jsc are also discussed.

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