Monica Alebbi

Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Photophysical Properties of Ruthenium Triazole Complexes and Their Application as Dye-Molecules in Regenerative Solar Cells

The complexes [Ru(dcb)2(L)] (L = 3-(2-phenol)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (2-ppt), 3-(4-phenol)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (4-ppt), 3,5-bis(pyrazin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (bpzt), 3-(2-phenol)-5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (2-ppzt) and dcb = 4,4’-(CO2H)2-2,2’-bipyridine) have been synthesized, spectroscopically characterized and anchored to nanocrystalline TiO2 electrodes for the conversion of light into electricity in regenerative solar cells. The different efficiencies observed have been rationalized on the basis of an analytical expression relating the incident photon-to-current-conversion efficiency (IPCE) to the kinetic parameters of the relevant electron transfer processes involved in the solar cell.

New ruthenium bisterpyridinyl complexes, as efficient sensitizers of nanocrystalline, TiO2 films

Abstract Unsymmetrical bisterpyridinyl ruthenium complexes carrying vicinal carboxylic acids are prepared. They show room temperature luminescence and efficient sensitisation of nanocrystalline TiO 2 films, with conversion yields (IPCE) of 70%.

Remote interfacial electron transfer processes on nanocrystalline TiO2 sensitized with polynuclear complexes

The kinetic study of interfacial electron transfer in sensitized nanocrystalline semiconductor is essential to the design of molecular devices performing specific light induced functions in a microheterogeneous environment. A series of molecular assemblies performing direct and remote charge injection to the semiconductor have been discussed in the context of artificial photosynthesis. A particular attention in this article has been paid to the factors that control the interfacial electron transfer processes in nanocrystalline TiO2 films sensitized with mononuclear and polynuclear transition metal complexes.