TiO ₂ -Assisted Photoisomerization of Azo Dyes Using Self-Assembled Monolayers: Case Study on para -Methyl Red Towards Solar-Cell Applications

Journal Article · Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 EST 2014 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/am500308d· OSTI ID:1395141

Zhang, Lei ^[1]; Cole, Jacqueline M. ^[2]

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1. Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
2. Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom; Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States

The optical and electronic properties of a TiO2 nanoparticle-assisted photo-isomerizable surface, prepared by an azo dye/TiO2 nanocomposite film, are examined experimentally and computationally. The azo dye, para-methyl red, undergoes photoisomerization at room temperature, catalyzed by the TiO2 nanoparticle supports, while it exhibits negligible photoisomerization in solvents under otherwise identical conditions. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory are employed to explain the origin of this photoisomerization in these dye…TiO2 nanoparticle self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The device performance of these SAMs when embedded into dye-sensitized solar cells is used to further elucidate the nature of this azo dye photoisomerization and relate it to the ensuing optoelectronic properties.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1395141
• Journal Information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 6, Issue 5; ISSN 1944-8244
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English