Preparation and photoelectrochemical characterization of thin SnO[sub 2] nanocrystalline semiconductor films and their sensitization with Bis(2,2[prime]-bipyridine)(2,2[prime]-bipyridine-4,4[prime]-dicarboxylic acid)ruthenium(II) complex

Journal Article · Thu Apr 14 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100066a037· OSTI ID:7267850

Bedja, I; Hotchandani, S ^[1]; Kamat, P V ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States) Universite du Quebec, Trois Rivieres, Quebec (Canada)
2. Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States)

Thin, transparent films of SnO[sub 2] semiconductor have been prepared from 30-A-diameter colloids. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction studies indicate a three-dimensional network of SnO[sub 2] nanocrystallites of particle diameter [le]50 [angstrom]. These thin nanocrystalline films exhibit reversible electrochromic effects. The electron trapping process in SnO[sub 2] particles has been investigated by both spectroelectrochemical and laser flash photolysis techniques. These electrodes are photoelectrochemically active in the UV region with incident photon-to-photocurrent conversion efficiency of 20% at 280 nm. The photocurrent increases with increasing film thickness but attains a limiting value at thickness greater than 0.75 [mu]m. The migration of charge across the grain boundaries is a limiting factor for the photocurrent generation in thicker films. These SnO[sub 2] films are highly porous and exhibit strong affinity for adsorption of sensitizer molecules such as bis(2,2[prime]-bipyridine) (2,2[prime]-bipyridine-4,4[prime]-dicarboxylic acid)ruthenium(II) perchlorate (Ru(bpy)[sub 2](dcbpy)[sup 2+]). SnO[sub 2] films modified with Ru(bpy)[sub 2](dcbpy)[sup 2+] exhibit excellent photoelectrochemical response in the visible with a power conversion efficiency of [approximately] 1% at 470 nm. 39 refs., 10 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-91ER45439
• OSTI ID: 7267850
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 98:15; ISSN JPCHAX; ISSN 0022-3654
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360602* -- Other Materials-- Structure & Phase Studies
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102 -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
400500 -- Photochemistry
ADSORPTION
AFFINITY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGE TRANSPORT
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COHERENT SCATTERING
COLLOIDS
COMPLEXES
CONVERSION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURRENTS
DECOMPOSITION
DIFFRACTION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERSION
ELECTROCHROMISM
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
FERMIONS
FILMS
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
LASER RADIATION
LEPTONS
LUMINESCENCE
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
MICROSTRUCTURE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOCURRENTS
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
PHOTOLYSIS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
RADIATIONS
REAGENTS
RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SCATTERING
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SENSITIZERS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SORPTION
SYNTHESIS
THIN FILMS
TIN COMPOUNDS
TIN OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION