Molecular Engineering of Photosensitizers for Nanocrystalline Solar Cells: Synthesis and Characterization of Ru Dyes Based on Phosphonated Terpyridines

Abstract

We report the results of an investigation on the preparation, spectral, and photoelectrochemical properties of Ru(II)-polypyridyl complexes containing a new phosphonated terpyridine (P-terpy) ligand: [Ru(H2P-terpy)2] and [Ru(HP-terpy)(Me2bpy)(NCS)]. Resonance Raman spectral and luminescence studies allow probing into the nature of the low-energy MLCT transitions observed in these complexes. The crystal and molecular structure of the mixed-ligand complex [Ru(HP-terpy)(Me2bpy)(NCS)] based on X-ray diffraction study is reported. This complex appears to be a promising candidate as a photosensitizer in dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells based on nanocrystalline films of TiO2.