Thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole-based organic sensitizers with strong visible light absorption for transparent, efficient and stable dye-sensitized solar cells

Five thiazolothiazole-based dyes, bearing electronrich ProDOT groups, were used as sensitizers in thin-layer DSSCs (active area: 0.25–3.6 cm²; TiO₂ thickness: 3.0–6.5 μm), giving efficiencies up to 7.71% coupled with excellent stability over 1000 h.