Rationale for kinetic heterogeneity of ultrafast light-induced electron transfer from Ru(II) complex sensitizers to nanocrystalline TiO2

Because of their successful use in dye-sensitized solar cells, Ru(II) polypyridyl complex dyes adsorbed on nanocrystalline TiO2 films have been regarded as model systems for the experimental study of the ultrafast dynamics of interfacial light-induced electron transfer. Most studies have reported charge injection kinetics from Ru(dcbpyH2)2(NCS)2 (N3) to take place with a fast (sub-100 fs) phase, followed by a slower (0.7-100 ps) multiexponential component. This complex, multiphasic behavior observed for the electron injection process has prevented the development of a satisfying kinetic model and has led to often contradicting conclusions. Here, we show that the observed kinetic heterogeneity can result from the aggregation of sensitizer molecules on the surface. Carefully controlled deposition of Ru(II) complex dye molecules onto nanocrystalline titania consistently yields a monophasic injection dynamics with a time constant shorter than 20 fs. The latter figure suggests the process is beyond the scope of vibration-mediated electron transfer kinetic models and might be controlled by the electron dephasing in the solid.