Solid-state sensitized solar cells, using [Ru(dcbpyH2)2Cl2]·2H2O as the dye and PEO/titania/I−/I3− as the redox electrolyte

The complex [Ru(II)(dcbpyH2)Cl2]·2H2O (where dcbpyH2 = 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine) has been synthesized, characterized and used as the dye to sensitize nanocrystalline TiO2 film electrodes. A composite polymer solid-state electrolyte was developed and incorporated into the corresponding dye-sensitized solar cells. The cells under direct sunlight illumination, produced a photocurrent as high as 0.84 mA cm−2 and a photovoltage of 618 mV, yielding an overall energy conversion efficiency of 0.27%. This relatively poor efficiency is discussed in terms of the current generation/collection mechanism of the cell and the spectral and electrochemical properties of the dye. The electrical output characteristics are compared with similar solid-state solar cells based on titania photoelectrodes sensitized with different ruthenium complexes.