Effects of tethering alkyl chains for amphiphilic ruthenium complex dyes on their adsorption to titanium oxide and photovoltaic properties
Journal
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Journal Volume
386
Journal Issue
1
Pages
359-365
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Ruthenium (II) complex dye, Ru(4,4'-dicarboxyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(4-nonyl-2,2'-bipyridine) (NCS) 2, (denoted as RuC9) tethering single alkyl chain was synthesized and well characterized. Its adsorption behavior onto the mesoporous TiO 2 and photovoltaic properties were compared with Z907 which has similar chemical structure but tethers two alkyl chains. RuC9 dyes tend to aggregate into vesicles in the acetonitrile/t-butanol co-solvent as a result of the amphiphilic structure, whereas Z907 dyes aggregate into lamellae. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with RuC9 dye showed higher short-circuit photocurrent than that with Z907, attributing to its higher molar optical extinction coefficient and more adsorption amount onto the mesoporous TiO 2. However, the DSSC with Z907 dye has higher open-circuit photovoltage and power conversion efficiency, presumably due to the fact that Z907 with more alkyl chains formed a molecular layer with higher hydrophobicity. It reduced the charge recombination in the interface between the dye-sensitized mesoporous TiO 2 and electrolyte as verified by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and intensity modulated photocurrent and photovoltage spectroscopies. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.
Subjects
Adsorption; Amphiphilic; DSSC; Photovoltaic; Ruthenium dye; TiO 2; Z907
SDGs
Other Subjects
Amphiphilics; DSSC; Photovoltaic; Ruthenium dye; TiO; Z907; Adsorption; Aggregates; Conversion efficiency; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Mesoporous materials; Photovoltaic effects; Ruthenium; Solar cells; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Ruthenium compounds; alkyl group; amphophile; cellubrevin; electrolyte; ruthenium (4,4' dicarboxyl 2,2' bipyridine)(4 nonyl 2,2' bipyridine); ruthenium complex; titanium dioxide; unclassified drug; absorption; adsorption; aqueous solution; article; atomic force microscopy; chemical structure; controlled study; electricity; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; hydrophobicity; priority journal; spectroscopy; synthesis; transmission electron microscopy
Type
journal article