Browsing by Author "Mabuku, Simasiku Dan"

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    Synthesis and characterization of cyanuric-based dye-sensitizer for solar cells, their photo-response in the visible region and chemosensing properties
    (University of Namibia, 2021) Mabuku, Simasiku Dan
    Two cyanuric-based potential dye-sensitizers were synthesized (Dye 1 & Dye 2), and characterized spectroscopically, UV-vis and FTIR among other techniques. Their photoresponse properties in the visible region were investigated (in ethanol at 1×10−5M) and studied. In addition, solvatochromic effect was also investigated, in solvents such as acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and toluene. It was established that both dyes have good solubility in ethanol and acetonitrile, compared to the others. Photophysical measurements suggest that the compounds display fitting light absorption characteristics for use as sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), with absorption maxima centered in the visible region in both cases. However, Dye 2 (compared to Dye 1) is highly likely to be more functional as a solar material, as evidenced by its wide absorption range in the visible region resulting from its appropriate charge transfer mechanism, the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), which may translate into enhanced photon harvesting. In addition, Dye 1 & Dye 2 can function as chemosensors by exploiting the same ICT mechanism, which makes them suitable for dye sensitizers. Subsequently, upon conducting UV-Vis analysis, Dye 1 appears to have selective recognition of Al3+ and Cu2+, whereas Dye 2 has a selective recognition of Pb2+ from all the cations that they were tested against (Al+, Co2+, Cr2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, K+, Li+, Pb2+). Similarly, Dye 1 and Dye 2 were also tested against anions (SO42-, AcO-, Br-, CN-, F-, NO3- and PO43-), in which Dye 1 demonstrated selective recognition of SO42-, CN-, PO42- and F- , while Dye 2 has selective recognition of ONLY SO42- and F-. Thus, Dye 1 & Dye 2 are both classified as dual sensors, for possessing more than one recognition site with its structural framework.