Study on dye molecules immobilized on the surface of titanium dioxide by a silane coupling agent

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22334
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0202:Condensed matter physics, plasma science, nuclear engineering, earth resources engineering, energy engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Fukui University of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Takeshita Tatsuya 福井工業大学, 環境情報学部, 講師 (80881903)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: クレシルバイオレット / シランカップリング剤 / 二酸化チタン / 色素増感太陽電池 / DFT / TD-DFT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study, carried out, with the object of determining the influence of the self-assembled monolayers based on the silane coupling agents on the orientation and arrangement of photosensitizing dyes and the photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). During the first year, quantum chemical calculations of cresyl violet (CV) covalently attached to a silane coupling agent were performed, and revealed that the its dye has potential as a promising photosensitizer for DSSCs. In the next fiscal year, dye-sensitized titanium oxide electrode using CV covalently attached to a silane coupling agent was prepared, and fabrication and characterization of a DSSC containing above-mentioned titanium oxide electrode. As a result, it was concluded that the silane coupling agent treated onto the titanium oxide surface prevents the aggregation of CV, resulting in the enhancement of the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSSC.

Free Research Field

物理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

色素増感太陽電池(DSSC)の光電変換では、光励起された有機色素から酸化チタン(TiO2)への電子注入が鍵となる。効率的な電子注入のために、DSSCの有機色素には、物性に関わる設計と配向・配列の制御に関わる設計が組み込まれており、その構造は複雑化している。そのため、合成には多段階のステップとコストが必要となる。本研究では、配向・配列の制御に関わる部分において、TiO2表面をシランカップリング剤で化学修飾する方法を用いた。そのシランカップリング剤と有機色素を結合させることで、TiO2表面上で生じる有機色素の凝集が抑制され、DSSCの光電変換効率が向上することを見出した。