Efficient ruthenium sensitizer with an extended π-conjugated terpyridine ligand for dye-sensitized solar cells

A ruthenium sensitizer with an extended π-conjugated terpyridine (TUS-42) has been synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Upon extension of the π-conjugated system of the terpyridine ligand, the conversion efficiency of the DSC with TUS-42 improved successfully to 10.7%, which is almost comparable to that of one of the most efficient ruthenium sensitizers (Black dye). Interestingly, an extremely large short-circuit current density (Jsc) value (22.7 mA/cm(2)) was obtained in the DSC with TUS-42 even though the amount of dye adsorption to the TiO2 photoelectrode is relatively small.