Electron Injection from Linearly Linked Two Dye Molecules to Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Covering Wavelength Range from 400 to 950 nm

Abstract

We report a hybrid dye system, in which two dyes are linked linearly by a metal–O–metal linkage, for dye sensitized solar cells (cell-NcSn-N719). Tin(IV) 2,11,20,29-tetra-tert-butyl-2,3-naphthalocyanine (NcSn) was adsorbed on a SnO2 surface by a Sn(p)–O–Sn(n) linkage, where Sn(p) and Sn(n) stand for a Sn atom on a Sn nanoparticle surface and that at the center of NcSn, respectively. cis-Diisothiocyanato-bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II) bis(tetrabutylammonium), known as N719, was bonded to NcSn by a –Sn(n)–O–CO– linkage. The incident photon to photocurrent efficiency (IPCE) curve of cell-NcSn-N719 suggested that electrons are injected from both N719 and NcSn to SnO2 nanoparticles.