Novel Ru(ii) sensitizers bearing an unsymmetrical pyridine-quinoline hybrid ligand with extended π-conjugation: synthesis and application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Heteroleptic ruthenium(II) sensitizers DV42 and DV51, encompassing a novel unsymmetrical pyridine-quinoline hybrid ligand with extended π-conjugation, were synthesized, characterized, and utilized in nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells. Due to the extended conjugation of DV42 and DV51, the absorption of the corresponding sensitized TiO₂ films extends into the red spectral range, shifted by 30–40 nm relative to the absorption of TiO₂ films sensitized with the standard Z907 ruthenium(II) dye. Contact angle measurements of DV42- and DV51-sensitized TiO₂ films suggest that these films are hydrophilic with contact angle values commonly observed upon sensitization with the standard N3 ruthenium(II) dye. Electrochemical studies of the novel ruthenium(II) dyes show that their first oxidation potentials lie well below the I⁻/I₃⁻ redox potential allowing easy regeneration. The excited-state oxidation potentials of both dyes lie above the TiO₂ conduction band, permitting efficient electron injection from the excited dye molecules into the semiconductor conduction band. Liquid electrolyte dye-sensitized solar cells incorporating DV42- or DV51-sensitized TiO₂ photoelectrodes afford overall power conversion efficiencies of 3.24 or 4.36% respectively. These efficiencies are up to 56% of the power conversion efficiencies attained by TiO₂ photoelectrodes sensitized by the benchmark Z907 ruthenium(II) dye under similar experimental conditions.