Dye Sensitized Solar Cells for Water Splitting and Fundamental Studies

Dye sensitized solar cells are receiving a great deal of attention since efficiencies of 7-10% were reported for high surface area TiO2 sensitized with ruthenium bipyridyl complexes. Research and development of these systems is primarily focused on maximizing their electrical power output. However, dye sensitization may also prove useful in other applications, including photoelectrochromics,detoxification, and fuel production. These applications may require the development of dyes that differ in properties from the dyes employed in power producing solar cells. Furthermore, the investigation of other dyes contributes to a better fundamental understanding of the dye-semiconductor interface. For these reasons, we have been exploring several different dye systems.