Electrochemically active nanocrystalline SnO{sub 2} films: Surface modification with thiazine and oxazine dye aggregates

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2048544· OSTI ID:40322

Liu, D; Kamat, P V ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States). Radiation Lab.

Thin films of SnO{sub 2}, nanocrystallites have been surface-modified with thionine, methylene blue, and oxazine 170 by adsorption from the corresponding dye solutions. The strong electrostatic interaction between the cationic dye and the negatively charged semiconductor nanocrystallites results in close packing of the dye on the semiconductor surface. These closely packed H-aggregates of the adsorbed dye are active both electrochemically and photoelectrochemically. Electron transfer from semiconductor nanocrystallites into the adsorbed dye aggregates leads to bleaching of the colored film. The extent of dye bleaching which is readily controlled by the applied potential, has been probed by spectroelectrochemical measurements. The photocurrent action spectra of these dye-modified SnO{sub 2} films indicate charge injection from excited dye aggregate into the semiconductor nanocrystallites with an incident photon-to-photocurrent efficiency of < 1 %.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 40322
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 142; ISSN 0013-4651; ISSN JESOAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
40 CHEMISTRY
ADSORPTION
DYES
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
PHOTOCURRENTS
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TIN OXIDES