The effect of tethering group acidity upon the coupling of porphyrinic dyes to ZnO nanotubes was examined. A homologous series of zinc porphyrin dyes with varying pKa of the carboxylic acid tether was created through a modular synthesis. These dyes were used to sensitize both ZnO nanotube and, as a control, TiO2 nanoparticle photoanodes. Higher cell efficiencies were observed when the tethering group pKa was below 3 on ZnO nanotubes, an effect not seen on TiO2 nanoparticles. This is evidence that efficient electron injection into ZnO nanotubes requires that the nanotubes must (a) be partially corroded by the dye and/or (b) couple the injection to interfacial proton adsorption or intercalation.

Coupling of a homologous series of porphyrin dyes to zinc oxide nantotube photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.