Synthesis, characterization and photovoltaic properties of Ni schiff base complex with the ligand of -4,4′-methylene bis (2,6-diethyl) aniline-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine

In the present study, we have synthesized Ni schiff base complex with the ligand of -4,4′-methylene bis (2,6-diethyl) aniline-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine at room temperature in aqeous solution. The structural, morphological and optical properties of complex were investigated by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy,respectively. The obtained results show that the complex can be used as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic properties of Ni schiff base complex used as dye sensitizer was studied for the first time. A DSSC was fabricated using Ni schiff base complex with the ligand as the dye sensitizers on nanoporous TiO₂ thin film and the photovoltaic parameters of the cells were determined. Our study suggests that Ni schiff-base complex can be used as a suitable sensitizer in applications of DSSCs.