Study of Allylsilyl and Hydrosilyl Groups as Anchor Moieties of Sensitizing Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Allylsilyl and hydrosilyl groups were examined as the anchor moieties of sensitizing dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells by using silylazobenzene dyes. Allylsilyl and hydrosilyl dyes were observed to adsorb efficiently onto TiO2electrodes and the dye-adsorbed electrodes exhibited high durability to water. Light-to-electric energy conversions were also confirmed in the cells using the dye-adsorbed electrodes. The results show a high potential of allylsilyl and hydrosilyl dyes as the sensitizing dyes.