Metal-TPP (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin) complex compounds as dye sensitizer in dye sensitized solar cells

The excessive exploitation of fossil fuels requires humans to look for alternative renewable energy sources that are environmentally friendly such as DSSC. DSSC is a solar cell technology that can convert photon energy in sunlight into electrical energy. This research aims to study the performance of complex compounds synthesized from tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) ligands with metal ions Cr(III), Mn(II) and Fe(III) and applied as dye sensitizers in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). Metal-TPP complexes have been successfully synthesized using the Adler method. The formation of metal-TPP complex compound is indicated by the characterization result using UV–Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, conductometer test and the observed MLCT phenomenon. In a dye sensitizer application, the performance of the Cr(III)-TPP complex compound shows a short circuit current density value (Jsc) of 8.0 mA/cm² with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.62 V and an efficiency value (ƞ) of 9.13 %. The Mn(II)-TPP complex compound shows that the short circuit current density value (Jsc) of 8.0 mA/cm² with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.64 V and an efficiency value (ƞ) of 9.16 %. The Fe(III)-TPP complex compound shows that the short circuit current density value (Jsc) of 8.0 mA/cm² with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.64 V and an efficiency value (ƞ) of 9.36 %.