The influence of anchoring group position in ruthenium dye molecule on performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

The effect of anchoring group position and, in consequence, the orientation of the ruthenium dye molecule on titania surface on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells has been studied intensively. Three model ruthenium sensitizing dyes bearing carboxylic anchoring group in ortho, meta or para position were synthesized and well characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical, photophysical and photochemical measurements. The results were confronted with the quantum-mechanical calculations and discussed. The para derivative has been found as the most effective sensitizer with the cells efficiency twice higher than the meta and four times higher than the ortho derivatives.