Aldimine derivatives as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

Five aldimine derivatives were prepared by condensation of the appropriate amine with salicylaldehyde (m1 - m4) and 4-aminobenzoic acid with 2-thiophene carboxaldehyde (m5). A molar ratio of 1:1 was used and the mixture was refluxed in ethanol for 2 h to obtain the corresponding aldimine derivative. These derivatives were used as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best performance was obtained for the DSSC sensitized with 2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino) benzoic acid, for which a short-circuit current of 2.86 mA/cm(2), an open-circuit voltage of 0.562 V, and an efficiency of 0.575% were obtained.