Neighboring metal nanoparticles influence photovoltaic and photocatalytic behavior of semiconductor nanostructures either through Fermi level equilibration by accepting electrons or inducing localized surface plasmon effects. By employing SiO(2)- and TiO(2)-capped Au nanoparticles we have identified the mechanism with which the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) is influenced by t...

Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes have seen extensive use in solar energy applications. One of the most efficient dye-sensitized solar cells produced to date employs the dye-sensitizer N719, a ruthenium polypyridyl thiocyanate complex. Thiocyanate complexes are typically present as an inseparable mixture of N-bound and S-bound linkage isomers. Here we report the synthesis of a new complex, [Ru(te...

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared by capitalizing on mesoporous P-25 TiO(2) nanoparticle film sensitized with N719 dyes. Subjecting TiO(2) nanoparticle films to TiCl(4) treatment, the device performance was improved. More importantly, O(2) plasma processing of TiO(2) film that was not previously TiCl(4)-treated resulted in a lower efficiency; by contrast, subsequent O(2) plasma e...

A silver nanoparticle-decorated N,S-co-doped TiO2 nanocomposite was successfully prepared and used as an efficient photoanode in high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with N719 dye. The DSSCs assembled with the N,S-TiO2@Ag-modified photoanode demonstrated an enhanced solar-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of 8.22%, which was better than that of a DSSC photoanode composed...

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most popular material for applications in solar-energy conversion and photocatalysis, both of which rely on the creation, transport, and trapping of charges (holes and electrons). The nature and lifetime of electron traps at room temperature have so far not been elucidated. Herein, we use picosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ti K-edge and the Ru L3-edge...

Dye-sensitized solar cells have shown great potential in low and self-powered nano/micro-scale applications, due to their fabrication costs, semi-transparency the visible spectrum, diffused light harvesting capabilities, lead-free structure. However, DSSC efficiencies are still relatively limited absorption capabilities active mesoporous layer. The current study demonstrates an attempt boost ov...

The syntheses of five homoleptic copper(I) complexes [CuL2][PF6] are described in which L is a 4,4'-di(4-bromophenyl)-6,6'-dialkyl-2,2'-bipyridine ligand (compounds 1-4 with methyl, (n)butyl, (iso)butyl and hexyl substituents, respectively) or 4,4'-di(4-bromophenyl)-6,6'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (5). The new ligands 2-5 and copper(I) complexes [CuL2][PF6] (L = 1-5) have been fully characterized...

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were developed by exploiting the photovoltaic effect to convert energy into electrical energy. The photoanode layer thickness significantly affects semiconductor film’s ability carry electronic charges, adsorb sensitizing dye molecules, and lower recombination of photo-excited electrons injected semiconductor. This study investigated dependence zinc oxide (ZnO...