Photovoltaic cells with various azo dyes as components of the active layer

•Six photovoltaic cells with an active layer of heterocyclic azo dyes are presented.•Heterocyclic azo dyes differ in the type of substituent both donor and acceptor.•Best photovoltaic properties of PV are for azo dyes with neutral substituent.•High power efficiency was also obtained for A3 (electron donating + C4H5NS groups)•High potential heterocyclic azo dyes for effective photovoltaic output is showed.