Attachment of poly[(ethoxyhexylsilylene)oligothienylene]s to inorganic oxide surface

Poly[(ethoxyhexylsilylene)quarter- and -quinquethienylene]s (EHSxT, x = 4 and 5) were prepared by Stille-coupling reactions of bis(bromothienyl)ethoxyhexylsilane and bis(tributylstannyl)bi- and -terthiophenes, respectively. Treatment of indium tin oxide (ITO) and TiO2 electrodes with solutions of EHSxT in chloroform at 40 °C led to the formation of the polymer-attached electrodes. An application of the EHS5T-attached TiO2 electrode to dye-sensitized solar cell was examined.