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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Electrospinning of Photocatalytic Electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: June 28, 2017
Versatile ruthenium(II) dye towards blue-light emitter and dye-sensitizer for solar cells
Kassio P S Zanoni1, Ronaldo C Amaral1, Neyde Y Murakami Iha1
1Laboratório de Fotoquímica e Conversão de energia, Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
A versatile Ru(II) complex bearing an anthracene moiety was synthesized in our search for suitable compounds towards efficient molecular devices. The new engineered dye, cis‑[Ru(dcbH2)(NCS)2(mbpy‑anth)] (dcbH2=2,2'‑bipyridyl‑4,4'‑dicarboxylic acid, mbpy‑anth=4‑[N‑(2‑anthryl)carbamoyl]‑4'‑methyl‑2,2'‑bipyridine), exhibits a blueish emission in a vibronically structured spectrum ascribed to the fluorescence of a 1LCAnth (ligand centered) excited state in the anthracene and has a potential to be exploited in the fields of smart lighting and displays. This complex was also employed in dye-sensitized solar cells with fairly efficient solar energy conversion with the use of self-assembled TiO2 compact layers beneath the TiO2 mesoporous film to prevent meso‑TiO2/dye back reactions. Further photoelectrochemical investigations through incident photon-to-current efficiency and electrochemical impedance spectra showed that the all-nano-TiO2 compact layer acts as contact layers that increase the electron harvesting in the external circuit, enhancing efficiencies up to 50%.
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