Incorporation of innovative compounds in nanostructured photoelectrochemical cells

New materials for dye-sensitized solar cells were incorporated and tested with success in sandwich type regenerative photoelectrochemical modules. A transition metal complex with two terpy ligands previously synthesized in our laboratory, [(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-4′-iodophenyl)(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-4′-phenylphosphonic acid)-ruthenium(II)]dichloride, has sensitized transparent thin nanostructured SnO2 film electrodes obtained by a doctor blade technique. A solvent-free composite polymer electrolyte consisting of high-molecular mass poly(ethylene) oxide filled with titania and containing LiI and I2 was introduced in order to transport the current of the cell at the counter electrode. Under white light illumination, the cell produced a continuous photocurrent as high as 0.63 mA cm−2 and a photovoltage of about 290 mV. The obtained IPCE (16%) and energy conversion values (0.1%) were similar to the corresponding values found with the standard N3 dye under the same conditions.