Steam - 6-7-2014 at 13:03
Ok so I have been doing some research (googling) on Dye Sensitized solar cells and I began wondering what makes the dye in them so prone to giving up
elections upon excitation from light. Which broght me into molecular sensitizers. What I am wondering is how and why molecules like (but not
necessarily) ruthenium-polypyridine dye, or copper-diselenium [Cu(In,GA)Se2], or 1-ethyl-3 methylimidazolium tetrocyanoborate [EMIB(CN)4] to name a
few work the way they do? What groups in these compounds actually give up an electron? Why is there so much organic "shrubbery" around most of them?
What makes one dye better than another?
A nice detailed response or links to some papers would be greatly appreciated!
WGTR - 6-7-2014 at 14:08
To answer a small part of your question, one major factor in what makes a good dye is its stability in the presence of UV light. If you make a DSSC
with blueberry juice, for example, it does not last very long, from personal experience.
Steam - 6-7-2014 at 14:41
Yeah that do! What would make one more stable in high energy conditions?
WGTR - 6-7-2014 at 15:22
Simply, one can use UV-blocking glass. This can greatly prolong the life of the dyes. As to the chemistry of it, someone else will have to answer
that. It's over my head.