Dual-functional BODIPY–coumarin photosensitizers for DSSCs and photocatalytic H2 evolution: A DFT/TD-DFT study of halogenation and anchoring-group engineering

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Muhammad Arvito Ramadhan, Okta Suryani, Lala Adetia Marlina, Aulia Sukma Hutama, Suci Zulaikha Hildayani, Trisna Kumala Sari, Riga Riga, Hanif Sabawi Ma'ruf

2026 Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Vol. 1262 Article Cited by 0 SDG 7 Quartile

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) were used to investigate the use of the BODIPY–coumarin derivatives as dual-functional photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Halogen substitution at the 2,6-positions (F, Cl, Br, and I) and anchoring group engineering have been studied to tune the electronic structure, intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), and optical properties. All systems maintain quasi-planar donor– π–acceptor (D–π–A) frameworks with extended π-conjugation. Fluorinated derivatives exhibit the smallest HOMO–LUMO gaps (∼3.92 eV), whereas strong electron-withdrawing anchors enhance the acceptor strength and induce red-shifted absorption. TD-DFT predicted two main absorption bands at 370–417 and 575–636 nm, with the largest bathochromic shifts observed for BDP3-F (636 nm) and BDP2-F (635 nm). Calculated free energies indicate favorable electron injection (ΔGinj ≈ −0.19 to −0.28 eV) and dye regeneration (ΔGreg ≈ −0.66 to −0.82 eV), with moderate reorganization energies. Overall, BDP2-F and BDP3-F are the most promising candidates. © 2024

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, 25132, Indonesia; Research Center for Computing, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Bogor, 16911, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

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