Novel far-red sensitive symmetric squaraine (SQ) dyes with terminal alkyl chain modifications were designed, synthesized, and characterized, aiming towards imparting multifunctionalities such as photosensitization, dye aggregation prevention, and source of electrolyte components. The dye sensitizer
SQ-80 with alkyl chain terminal modifications consisting of
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Novel far-red sensitive symmetric squaraine (SQ) dyes with terminal alkyl chain modifications were designed, synthesized, and characterized, aiming towards imparting multifunctionalities such as photosensitization, dye aggregation prevention, and source of electrolyte components. The dye sensitizer
SQ-80 with alkyl chain terminal modifications consisting of 1-methylimidazolium iodide was designed and synthesized as a new dye sensitizer for DSSCs based on symmetric
SQ-4 without any terminal modification used as reference. Upon adsorption on the mesoporous TiO
2 surface,
SQ-80 demonstrated reduced dye aggregation and stronger binding to the TiO
2 surface, leading to enhanced durability of DSSCs. Apart from the most common photosensitization behavior, the newly designed dye demonstrated multifunctionalities such as aggregation prevention and electrolyte functionality, utilizing iodine-based redox electrolytes in the presence and absence of
I2 and LiI additives. In the absence of LiI and
I2, a mixture of
SQ-77 with alkyl chain terminal modifications consisting of iodide and
SQ-80 demonstrated a photoconversion efficiency of 1.54% under simulated solar irradiation, which was about six times higher compared with the reference dye
SQ-4 (0.24%) (having no alkyl chain terminal modification).
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