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| Author(s): |
André Luis Araújo Parussulo
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) |
| Defense date: | 2013-02-18 |
| Examining board members: |
Henrique Eisi Toma;
Neyde Yukie Murakami Iha;
Ana Flavia Nogueira;
Flavio Maron Vichi;
Herbert Winnischofer
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| Advisor: | Henrique Eisi Toma |
| Abstract | |
This thesis encompasses our efforts to improve the knowledge and contribute to the development of dye-sensitized solar cells, by focusing on supramolecular design of new dyes and on critical aspects of the morphology of the TiO2-P25 and TiO2-Dye interfaces, as probed by confocal Raman microscopy. According to Raman imaging of the crystalline phase distribution of TiO2-P25 (Degussa) rutile was present as aggregates of different sizes (from 250 nm to 3 µm) dispersed in the 25 nm anatase powder, persisting even after applying criterious procedures for generating uniform colloidal suspensions. In addition, the irradiation of TiO2-P25 films containing adsorbed N3 dye, using a 532 nm laser (power over to 25 mW cm-2) led to the absorption and instantaneous combustion of the dye, promoting drastic local changes associated with the anatase to rutile conversion. The design and application of new supramolecular sensitizers in DSC has also been pursued, aiming an improvement of efficiency by slowing down the electron-hole recombination process, while enhancing the light harvesting effects in the visible range by means of vectorial electron/energy transfer. Studies concerning another efficient supramolecular porphyrin dye, have also been performed and published (Appendix). As the main subject, a series of dimeric species have been reported. They were based on the [Ru(dcbH2)Cl]+ and [Ru(dmb)2Cl]+ units connected by linear bridging ligands of increasing lengths, such as: bpy, bpe and bpeb (dcbH2= 2,2\'-bipyridine-4,4\'-dicarboxylic acid, dmb= 4,4\'-dimethyl-2,2\'-bipyridine, bpy= 4,4\'-bipyridine, bpe= trans-1,2-bis(4- pyridyl)-ethylene e bpeb= trans-1,4-bis[2-(4-pyridyl)ethenyl]-benzene). The overall yield of the corresponding DSCs increased with the bridging ligand length, from 2.78 % for dim-Ru-bpy, to 2.89 % and 3.25 % for dim-Ru-bpe and dim-Ru-bpeb, respectively. The electrochemical parameters associated with the short circuit current exhibited a linear correlation with the hole separation distance between the TiO2 electrode and the binuclear dye terminal, confirming that the retardation of charge recombination through the increasing distance is indeed a relevant factor for this series of compounds. The IPCE results indicated that the [Ru(dmb)2Cl(P)]+ unit is also involved in electron transfer, such that the dye excitation always leads the TiO2(e-)-Ru-Ru(h+) species. This conclusion confirmed the success of the supramolecular design and vectorial transfer strategy, in which the HOMO center was placed far away from the surface, but in communication with the LUMO center located at the dcbH2 group anchored on TiO2. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 08/01495-5 - Development of the supramolecular systems for photoelectrochemical devices |
| Grantee: | André Luis Araújo Parussulo |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct) |