Rod-like Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes for Dye-sensitized Photovoltaics

ABSTRACTRuthenium complexes with tridentate terpyridine type ligands have many structural advantages over the complexes with bipyridine ligands. Polynuclear ruthenium complexes prepared using these terpyridine ligands bridged with phenylene rings are potential candidates for photosensitization in dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells. In this study, we have carried out synthesis, characterization and theoretical modeling of rigid, rod-like homometallic dinuclear ruthenium complexes using terpyridine and bipyridine ligands. The photophysical and photovoltaic properties have been investigated. These supramolecular dyes are found to be efficient photosensitizers in dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells when a liquid electrolyte is employed.