Dyes for Use in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2019) | Viewed by 23232

Special Issue Editors

College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Interests: design, synthesis, and characterization of organic dyes and pigments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
North Carolina State University
Interests: molecular modeling; synthesis and characterization of dyes; dye-sensitized solar cells; photochemistry and photophysics of dyes and polymers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For the past decade, advances in new colorants have largely centered on high-tech applications of dyes—a sector now commonly referred to as “functional dyes”. In this regard, the development of colorants for use in food, drug, and cosmetic products, in digital printing and photography, and in biological/histological stains is now matched, if not superseded, by their development for areas such as cancer phototherapy and solar energy capture and storage. Thus, we are pleased to team with the Applied Science Journal in announcing a Special Issue entitled “Dyes for Use in 1) Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and 2) Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)”. It is envisioned that the scope of papers comprising this Special Issue will pertain to the molecular design, synthesis, and characterization (theoretical and experimental) of PDT and DSSC dyes. In addition, the importance of environmental stewardship in the manufacture and use of synthetic dyes makes approaches to circumventing adverse toxicological effects in the target dyes a worthwhile topic to cover.

The Special Issue will be of interest to academic, governmental/regulatory, and industrial researchers, making it an important resource in all three settings. Accordingly, we encourage researchers worldwide to contribute to this peer-reviewed volume, to help capture developments that have occurred in these two important arenas both historically and in recent years.

Prof. Dr. Harold S. Freeman
Prof. Dr. Ahmed El-Shafei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Synthesis
  • Molecular design
  • Photodynamic therapy
  • DSSC dyes
  • Novel structures
  • Structural analysis
  • Functional dyes
  • Environmental impact

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 5954 KiB  
Article
Optimizing a Simple Natural Dye Production Method for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Examples for Betalain (Bougainvillea and Beetroot Extracts) and Anthocyanin Dyes
by María José García-Salinas and María Jesús Ariza
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(12), 2515; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122515 - 20 Jun 2019
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 7942
Abstract
We present a study about the sensitizers extracted from natural resources. This paper focuses on how to select, extract and characterize natural dyes, giving some guides to establish a protocol for the whole process of fabricating and using these dyes. The influence of [...] Read more.
We present a study about the sensitizers extracted from natural resources. This paper focuses on how to select, extract and characterize natural dyes, giving some guides to establish a protocol for the whole process of fabricating and using these dyes. The influence of the extraction solvent and method, and of parameters such as pH are analyzed. Also, dye precursor and dye extract stability have been studied, as well as how the dye adsorbs onto substrates and the effect of mixing or concentrating the extracts. Results concerning betalain pigments present in bougainvillea and beetroot extracts, and anthocyanins in eggplant extracts, analyzed by using UV-Vis spectrometry, are included. As an example of application, we report procedures intended to test and enhance the dye potential as a main component of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs mimic nature’s photosynthesis and have some advantages like an easy and low-cost fabrication procedure. Their efficiency depends on its design and fabrication process and also on the different components involved. Hence, optimizing each component is essential to achieve the best performance, and thus the dye used as a sensitizer is crucial. We fabricate cells by using a simple procedure: As the interest is focused on the sensitizer, the same consecutive steps are followed, varying only the dye extract. Among all the natural-dyes tested, beetroot extract reaches up to 0.47% cell efficiency, which is near the highest values found in literature for this pigment. Full article
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14 pages, 2768 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Encapsulation of a New Zinc Phthalocyanine Photosensitizer into Polymeric Nanoparticles to Enhance Cell Uptake and Phototoxicity
by Nahid Mehraban, Phillip R. Musich and Harold S. Freeman
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(3), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9030401 - 24 Jan 2019
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3497
Abstract
Efforts to enhance the utility of photodynamic therapy as a non-invasive method for treating certain cancers have often involved the design of dye sensitizers with increased singlet oxygen efficiency. More recently, however, sensitizers with greater selectivity for tumor cells than surrounding tissue have [...] Read more.
Efforts to enhance the utility of photodynamic therapy as a non-invasive method for treating certain cancers have often involved the design of dye sensitizers with increased singlet oxygen efficiency. More recently, however, sensitizers with greater selectivity for tumor cells than surrounding tissue have been targeted. The present study provides an approach to the modification of the known photosensitizer zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), to enhance its solubility and delivery to cancer cells. Targeting a photosensitizer to the site of action improves the efficacy of the sensitizer in photodynamic therapy. In this work we used PLGA-b-PEG to encapsulate a new zinc phthalocyanine derivative, 2(3), 9(10), 16(17), 23(24)-tetrakis-(4’-methyl-benzyloxy) phthalocyanine zinc(II) (ZnPcBCH3), to enhance uptake into A549 cells, a human lung cancer cell line. ZnPcBCH3 exhibited the same photochemical properties as the parent compound ZnPc but gave increased solubility in organic solvents, which allowed for efficient encapsulation. In addition, the encapsulated dye showed a near 500-fold increase in phototoxicity for A549 cancer cells compared to free dye. Full article
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12 pages, 2348 KiB  
Article
Structure and Photoelectrical Properties of Natural Photoactive Dyes for Solar Cells
by Qian Liu, Nan Gao, Dejiang Liu, Jinglin Liu and Yuanzuo Li
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(9), 1697; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8091697 - 19 Sep 2018
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4339
Abstract
A series of natural photoactive dyes, named as D1–D6 were successfully extracted from six kinds of plant leaves for solar cells. The photoelectrical properties of dyes were measured via UV-Vis absorption spectra, cyclic voltammetry as well as photovoltaic measurement. To theoretically reveal the [...] Read more.
A series of natural photoactive dyes, named as D1–D6 were successfully extracted from six kinds of plant leaves for solar cells. The photoelectrical properties of dyes were measured via UV-Vis absorption spectra, cyclic voltammetry as well as photovoltaic measurement. To theoretically reveal the experimental phenomena, the chlorophyll was selected as the reference dye, where the ground and excited state properties of chlorophyll were calculated via density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The experimental results show that the absorption peaks of those dyes are mainly distributed in the visible light regions of 400–420 nm and 650–700 nm, which are consistent with the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll. The photoelectrical conversion efficiencies of the solar cells sensitized by the six kinds of natural dyes are in the order of D1 > D4 > D2 > D5 > D6 > D3. The dye D1 performance exhibits the highest photoelectrical conversion efficiency of 1.08% among the investigated six natural dyes, with an open circuit voltage of 0.58 V, a short-circuit current density of 2.64 mA cm−2 and a fill factor of 0.70. Full article
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13 pages, 2314 KiB  
Article
Quinoxaline-Based Dual Donor, Dual Acceptor Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
by Adithya Peddapuram, Hammad Cheema, Louis E. McNamara, Yanbing Zhang, Nathan I. Hammer and Jared H. Delcamp
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(9), 1421; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8091421 - 21 Aug 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4115
Abstract
A novel metal-free quinoxaline-based molecular framework with a dual donor and dual acceptor (DD-π-AA) motif has been introduced. Four sensitizers (AP6, AP8, AP9, and AP12) have been synthesized and fully characterized via UV–Vis absorption, cyclic voltammetry, density functional [...] Read more.
A novel metal-free quinoxaline-based molecular framework with a dual donor and dual acceptor (DD-π-AA) motif has been introduced. Four sensitizers (AP6, AP8, AP9, and AP12) have been synthesized and fully characterized via UV–Vis absorption, cyclic voltammetry, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC), and in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) devices. Structural modifications to both the donor and acceptor/anchor regions were evaluated via structure–property relationships without altering the quinoxaline π-bridge. Through careful dye design, a broadly absorbing near-infrared (NIR) sensitizer extending electricity production to 800 nm is realized in DSC devices. Ground- and excited-state oxidation potentials were measured to show energetically favorable charge transfer events. Importantly, the dye structure was found to have a strong influence on dye energetics in different environments with structural elements allowing for either similar or dramatically different solution versus film measurements. The DSC device electrolyte was also found to have a significant influence on dye energetics as well. Electron transfer events were probed for each dye with DSC device measurements and with TCSPC studies. The results are correlated to the dye structures. Full article
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10 pages, 1202 KiB  
Article
Characterizations of Efficient Charge Transfer and Photoelectric Performance in the Cosensitization of Solar Cells
by Qian Liu, Xiaochen Lin, Lu Mi, Nan Gao, Peng Song, Fengcai Ma and Yuanzuo Li
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(7), 1122; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8071122 - 11 Jul 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2814
Abstract
Dyes D35 and XY1 for solar cells have been investigated theoretically with the quantum chemistry method and visualized 3D cube representation. Some important information (such as absorption spectra, molecular orbitals, reorganization energy, chemical reactivity, driving force of electron injection, light-harvesting efficiency, as well [...] Read more.
Dyes D35 and XY1 for solar cells have been investigated theoretically with the quantum chemistry method and visualized 3D cube representation. Some important information (such as absorption spectra, molecular orbitals, reorganization energy, chemical reactivity, driving force of electron injection, light-harvesting efficiency, as well as the dipole moment, etc.) has been studied to explain the efficiency of dyes, and the visualized intramolecular and intermolecular charge transfer process and fast dynamic process of the interface electron transfer have been studied to estimate the strength of electron transfer in cosensitization. Calculated results indicated that the improved absorption spectra range, fast electron injection, and the larger dipole moment significantly promote the cosensitized solar cell efficiency in comparison with isolated Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). Full article
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