Harvesting infrared photons with tricarbocyanine dye clusters

The absorption of 4,5-benzoindotricarbocyanine dye (IR125) in the infrared can be tuned by controlling the type of aggregation in different media. Molecular clusters of this dye formed in a mixed solvent show broad absorption in the 550-950 nm region as compared to the absorption bands of J- and H-type aggregates. The molecular clusters of the carbocyanine dye are electrophoretically deposited as thin film on optically transparent electrodes using a dc electric field. These tricarbocyanine dye cluster films are photoactive in the infrared region and produce cathodic current when employed as photocathode in a photoelectrochemical cell. Transient absorption spectroscopy of the molecular clusters show short-lived singlet state in the picosecond time scale (lifetime 6 ps) and a charge separated state in the nanosecond time scale. Implication of such dye cluster films for harvesting infrared photons in a photoelectrochemical cell is discussed.