BIOCATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF A RUTHENIUM MACROMOLECULAR COMPLEX FOR PHOTOVOLTAICS

ABSTRACT

A phenolic ligand, 4-([1,10] Phenanthrolin-5-yliminomethyl)-phenol (APHB) has been synthesized which was subjected to biocatalytic polymerization by Hematin. The polyligand obtained was complexed with Ru[(dcbpy)₂Cl₂] (where dcbpy=4,4′-dicarboxylic bipyridyl) to synthesize a macromolecular complex {Ru[(dcbpy)₂(APHB)]}_n (macro dye) for the sensitization of a nanocrystalline titanium dioxide based dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell. The precursor monomeric Ruthenium complex, Ru[(dcbpy)₂(APHB)] was also prepared for comparison. The overall solar-to-electric conversion efficiency of the macro dye was found to be 0.33%, which is lower than the monomeric complex (1.51%), when a liquid electrolyte is used. The photophysical properties were also measured using UV-visible and luminescence spectroscopy for both the monomeric complex and the macro dye.

Keywords:

• Hematin
• Catalytic polymerization
• Macro dye
• Photovoltaic cell

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Dr. Wei Liu, Dr. Lian Li, and Dr. S. K. Sahoo for helpful discussions and the Office of Naval Research and US Army Labs, Natick for the financial support.

Notes

Dedicated to the memory of Professor Sukant K. Tripathy.

Deceased.