Previous synthetic efforts in our laboratory have produced a ruthenium complex that contains a silyl functional group for potential incorporation into Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). Specifically, the complex [Ru(bpy)2(silyl-bpy)](PF6)2, where silyl-bpy is a 4,4'-trimethylsilyl-2,2'-bipyridine ligand, was synthesized and subsequently attached to a hydroxylated TiO2 surface via the silyl linkage.  The cell constructed with the [Ru(bpy)2(sil-bpy)]2+ complex demonstrated lower efficiency compared to a dicarboxylic acid analog, [Ru(bpy)2(dcbpy)]2+ presumably due to a combination of weaker electronic coupling between the excited state of the metal complex and the TiO2 conduction band and decreased surface loading of the complex on the TiO2. Our present work seeks to explore an alternate route to this metal functionalized surface by first covalently attaching the silylated bipyridine ligand to the hydroxylated TiO2 surface followed by subsequent coordination by a metal complex.  A comparison of these two approaches to modifying oxide surfaces with metal complexes will be discussed.

Scaffolding synthesis and deposition of a silylated ruthenium dye for application to dye sensitized solar cells

247th National Meeting (2014)

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