Dye having dispersant function and solar cell comprising the same
Disclosed are a novel dye, having a dispersant functional group to simultaneously exhibit a dye function and a dispersant function, and a dye-sensitized solar cell including the same. According to this invention, the dye may simultaneously manifest a dye function for absorbing light, made possible by being adsorbed on the entire surface of metal oxide particles, to thus produce excited electrons which are then transferred into a conduction band of metal oxide, and a dispersant function for preventing the agglomeration of the particles to thus improve the uniformity of the metal oxide particles in a paste and film density.
1. A dye, which is represented by Formula 1 below:
wherein R a , R b , R c and R d are each independently H + or are represented by Formula 2 below, at least one of R a , R b , R c and R d being represented by Formula 2 below:
wherein X 1 , X 2 , X 3 and X 4 are each independently H or a methyl group, A is a substituted or unsubstituted C 6-30 arylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 6-30 arylalkylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C 6-30 cycloalkylene group, B is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-20 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-20 alkenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-20 alkynyl group, which may be present in a linear or branched type, m is an integer from 1 to 20, and n is 0 or 1.
2. The dye as set forth in claim 1 , which is represented by any one of Formulas 3 to 6 below:
wherein X is
R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are each independently H or a methyl group, and m is an integer from 5 to 10, l is 0 or 1, and k is an integer from 2 to 10.
3. The dye as set forth in claim 2 , which is represented by Formula 7 below:
4. A semiconductor electrode, comprising:
a transparent electrode, including a substrate and a conductive material applied thereon;
a metal oxide layer formed on the transparent electrode; and
the dye of claim 1 , present in the metal oxide layer.
5. The semiconductor electrode as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the substrate is a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, or a silica substrate.
6. A dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:
the semiconductor electrode of claim 4 ;
an electrolyte layer; and
a counter electrode.