A Ru(II) molecular antenna bearing a novel bipyridine–acrylonitrile ligand: Synthesis and application in dye solar cells

A new molecular photosensitizer (DK108) was synthesized from the reaction of cis-[Ru(H2dcbpy)2Cl2] with the novel bipyridine-acrylonitrile ligand 5. DK108 was completely characterized by a variety of spectroscopic techniques (one- and two-dimensional NMR, UV–Vis, FTIR, HRMS, Raman, and cyclic voltammetry), its photo-electrochemical properties were thoroughly investigated, and was utilized in nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells. Liquid electrolyte dye solar cells incorporating DK108-sensitized TiO2 photoelectrodes afford overall power conversion efficiencies of 1.3%. Despite the relatively low power conversion efficiencies of DK108-sensitized TiO2 films, their fully transparent nature above 600 nm render DK108 suitable for building integration applications and the investigation of fundamental issues related to the sensitization mechanism.

Two novel bipyridine-type ligands were synthesized and completely characterized. One of these ligands was used in the synthesis of a new molecular light-harvesting antenna, which was also extensively characterized and utilized in nanocrystalline liquid electrolyte dye-sensitized solar cells.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide