Engineering of efficient panchromatic sensitizers for nanocrystalline TiO(2)-based solar cells.

A new series of panchromatic ruthenium(II) sensitizers derived from carboxylated terpyridyl complexes of tris-thiocyanato Ru(II) have been developed. Black dye containing different degrees of protonation [(C(2)H(5))(3)NH][Ru(H(3)tcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 1, [(C(4)H(9))(4)N](2)[Ru(H(2)tcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 2, [(C(4)H(9))(4)N](3)[Ru(Htcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 3, and [(C(4)H(9))(4)N](4)[Ru(tcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 4 (tcterpy = 4,4',4' '-tricarboxy-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) have been synthesized and fully characterized by UV-vis, emission, IR, Raman, NMR, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray diffraction studies. The crystal structure of complex 2 confirms the presence of a Ru(II)N6 central core derived from the terpyridine ligand and three N-bonded thiocyanates. Intermolecular H-bonding between carboxylates on neighboring terpyridines gives rise to 2-D H-bonded arrays. The absorption and emission maxima of the black dye show a bathochromic shift with decreasing pH and exhibit pH-dependent excited-state lifetimes. The red-shift of the emission maxima is due to better pi-acceptor properties of the acid form that lowers the energy of the CT excited state. The low-energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer absorption band showed marked solvatochromism due to the presence of thiocyanate ligands. The Ru(II)/(III) oxidation potential of the black dye and the ligand-based reduction potential shifted cathodically with decreasing number of protons and showed more reversible character. The adsorption of complex 3 from methoxyacetonitrile solution onto transparent TiO(2) films was interpreted by a Langmuir isotherm yielding an adsorption equilibrium constant, K(ads), of (1.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1). The amount of dye adsorbed at monolayer saturation was (n(alpha) = 6.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-)(8) mol/mg of TiO(2), which is around 30% less than that of the cis-di(thiocyanato)bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) complex. The black dye, when anchored to nanocrystalline TiO(2) films achieves very efficient sensitization over the whole visible range extending into the near-IR region up to 920 nm, yielding over 80% incident photon-to-current efficiencies (IPCE). Solar cells containing the black dye were subjected to analysis by a photovoltaic calibration laboratory (NREL, U.S.A.) to determine their solar-to-electric conversion efficiency under standard AM 1.5 sunlight. A short circuit photocurrent density obtained was 20.5 mA/cm(2), and the open circuit voltage was 0.72 V corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 10.4%.     

A Novel Alkene(alkyl)(aqua)(aryl)platinum(II) Complex – [Pt{CH(CH2C6F5)CH2CH2CH=CH2}(C6F5)(OH2)]

From the reaction of PtCl₂(hex) (hex = hexa‐1,5‐diene) with LiC₆F₅ in diethyl ether, the complex [Pt{CH(CH₂C₆F₅)CH₂CH₂CH=CH₂}(C₆F₅)(OH₂)] ( 1 ) was isolated. The crystal structure (monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), Z = 8, a = 15.241(3), b = 16.579(2), c = 16.225(2) Å, β = 111.12(2)°) shows a complex with square planar coordination around platinum with a template formed 1‐pentafluorophenylhex‐5‐en‐2‐yl ligand, and C₆F₅ and aqua ligands trans to the double bond and alkyl carbon, respectively.     

Molecular and Crystal Structures of Pentafluorophenyl‐platinum(II) Complexes with Bis(diphenylphosphino)methane,Bis(diphenylarsino)methane and 1,2‐Bis(diphenylarsino)ethane

The X‐ray crystal structures of [PtCl₂(dppm)], [Pt(C₆F₅)₂L] (L = dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane), dpam (bis(diphenylarsino)methane), dpae (bis(diphenylarsino)ethane)) and [PtCl(C₆F₅)(dpae)] show the complexes to be monomeric with chelating dipnictido ligands, and not alternatives with bridging ligands. In [Pt(C₆F₅)₂(dpam)₂], there are two unidentate diarsine ligands in a cis‐arrangement.     

13C NMR and infrared evidence of a dioctyl-disulfide structure on octanethiol-protected palladium nanoparticle surfaces

On 13C1-labeled octanethiol-protected 2.7 nm Pd nanoparticle surfaces, it has been observed that the 13C1 NMR of the alpha-carbon shows a peak centered around 38 ppm (with respect to tetramethylsilane (TMS)), which virtually coincides with that of the alpha-carbons in a dioctyl-disulfide molecule (39.3 ppm), and the corresponding 13C1 spin-spin relaxation becomes nonexponential. In addition, the infrared spectrum of the same sample shows that the ligands have a 100% gauche conformation, which is also consistent with a dioctyl-disulfide arrangement. By comparing with data obtained on 13C1-labeled octanethiol-protected 2.8 nm Au nanoparticles, we propose that a dioctyl-disulfide structure of the ligands is formed on the octanethiol-protected Pd nanoparticle surface, in contrast to the thiolate structure proposed on the Au nanoparticles. In addition, CO adsorption experiments show no sign of a PdS layer formed on the Pd nanoparticle surface. Furthermore, data taken over a period of more than 1 year show that the Pd nanoparticles are rather stable in organic solvents (for instance benzene), although slow degradation does happen and oxygen seems to play an important role in accelerating the degradation.     

Behavior of synchrotron motion in a storage-ring laser

A one-dimensional linearized analysis of a storage-ring laser is developed. The dynamic and equilibrium behavior of the energy spread, bunch length, and correlation are derived analytically through a formalism generally applicable to linear difference equations. The limits on the applicability of the linear approximation are discussed.     

Characterization of Free-Electron Laser bunch lengthening on the ACO Storage Ring

This paper summarizes the basic low-current, laser-induced bunch-lengthening measurements that have been made on the ACO Storage-Ring Free-Electron Laser (SRFEL). The measurements provide verification of both the functional dependence and absolute magnitude of SRFEL theoretical models. The method of measurement, which is is explained, exploits frequency-domain techniques and is capable of accuracies comparable to those of a streak camara. The measurements are in good agreement with existing SRFEL theory and provide an important base for future work.Work supported in part by AFOSR under contract F49620-80-C-0068, the DGRST under contract 79-7-0163, and the DRET under contract 9-073 and 81-131     

The formation of organometallic compounds by sulphur dioxide elimination reactions of the pentafluorobenzenesulphinate ion

Only two preparations of pentafluorophenylorganometallics by sulphur dioxide elimination reactions have been reported. Thermal decomposition of the S-sulphinato complex C₆F₅SO₂Fe(π-C₅H₅)(CO)₂ gives C₆F₅Fe(π-C₅H₅)(CO)₂¹, and a pentaflurophenyliridium compound has been prepared by the reaction²:IrCl(Ph₃P)₂N₂ + C₆F₅SO₂Cl→ C₆F₅IrCl₂(Ph₃P)₂SO₂ + N₂ (1)