Chlorin-sensitized high-efficiency photovoltaic cells that mimic spectral response of photosynthesis

Abstract

Chlorin e6, a metal-free hydrophilic derivative of chlorophyll, was used as a sensitizer of mesoporous TiO2 film to construct a high-efficiency solar cell as a model for artificial photosynthesis. The cell exhibited wide spectral responsivity in the visible light region that resembles action spectrum of photosynthesis. Optimization of dye adsorption method by using co-adsorbing surfactant agents that suppress intermolecular aggregation of the dye achieved high energy conversion efficiency up to 4.3 % under simulated sunlight of 100 mW cm-2 intensity.