Photophysics and photochemistry of phenosafranine adsorbed on the surface of ZnO loaded nanoporous materials

• Photosensitization of phenosafranine adsorbed on ZnO loaded nanoporous materials.
• Time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy of the dye in solid host materials.
• No photoinduced charge transfer between phenosafranine to ZnO in solution.
• Photoinduced electron transfer in solid host confirmed by transient absorption spectroscopy.

The photosensitizing properties of phenosafranine adsorbed on surface of the zinc oxide (ZnO) loaded nanoporous materials and colloidal zinc oxides have been investigated by the steady state, time resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectral studies. The ZnO loaded nanoporous materials were prepared by ion-exchange method and the formation of ZnO nanoparticle inside the host materials were characterized by DRS, ICP-OES, XRD and BET-surface area technique. The steady state absorption and emission spectra of phenosafranine does not change when addition of ZnO colloids into the dye solution, the results suggested that excited singlet state of the dye does not participate in the charge injection process. Whereas, singlet state charge injection occur when the dye adsorbed on the surface of ZnO loaded nanoporous materials. The time resolved fluorescence and picoseconds transient absorption studies of phenosafranine adsorbed on ZnO loaded host materials are investigated in detail, which would useful for making ZnO based dye sensitized solar cell.

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