Biljana Bozic-Weber, E. Constable, C. Housecroft
Mar 30, 2010
Citations
1
Influential Citations
46
Citations
Journal
Dalton transactions
Abstract
Four members of a series of N-phenylpyridin-2-ylmethanimine ligands (L) decorated with carboxylic acid functionalities have been prepared. The ligand design allows a copper(i) complex [CuL(2)](+) to bind to a TiO(2) surface through the simultaneous use of two carboxylate anchoring domains. Complexes of the type [CuL(2)][PF(6)], [CuL(NCMe)(2)][PF(6)] and [Ru(bpy)(2)L][PF(6)](2) have been synthesized and characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopies, mass spectrometry and, for four of the complexes, single crystal X-ray diffraction. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been fabricated using the new complexes and the performances of the dyes assessed. The copper(I) complexes show good surface coverage and tuning of the electrolyte and the electronic properties of the ligands is now required to enhance the efficiencies of the DSCs.