The interaction and photostability of some xanthenes and selected azo sensitizing dyes with TiO2 nanoparticles

We have tested simple Graetzel-type solar cells using semiconductor thin films consisting of TiO2 nanoparticles and some electron injecting dyes. The possibility of using xanthenes (rhodamine 101, fluorescein and 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein) and selected azo dyes (alizarin yellow R, alizarin yellow 2G and carboxyaesenazo) as sensitizers has been explored. Fluorescence and electronic absorption measurements revealed complex formation between the chosen dyes and the surface of the colloidal TiO2. The apparent association constants (Kapp) of the surface complexes have been estimated and are correlated with the dyeinduced negative shifts of the reduction potential of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles. Moreover, due to its utmost importance, photostability of the organic dyes in absence and presence of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles and the influence of the used electrolyte have been examined. The results point to a remarkable enhancement of photostability in the presence of the electrolyte (I3−/I−), which is attributed to fast regeneration of the neutral dye via the redox couple of the electrolyte. Furthermore, photocurrent action spectrum of the fabricated and tested DSC shows the origin of photoelectric output to be optical absorption of the dye used

Fluorescence and photostability studies of anthracene-9-carboxylic acid in different media

Electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (ANCA) were studied in different homogeneous solvents, binary protic/aprotic solvent mixtures and in heterogeneous solutions of the cationic cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) micelle. Different chemical species of ANCA were identified spectroscopically in different media. The results are discussed on the basis of a mechanism that involves two equilibria: acid-base equilibrium and monomer-dimer equilibrium. These equilibria were found to be very sensitive to the nature of the medium and the concentration of ANCA.Moreover, while it is photostable in most solvents studied, the ANCA was found to be photolabile in aqueous media of different pHs. The acid-base catalyzed photodegradation rate was studied by following up absorption and/or fluorescence intensities as a function of illumination dose. The determined rate of the photochemical degradation of ANCA depends on the nature of the medium. The first order degradation rate constant is remarkably enhanced in heterogeneous medium of CTAB. As expected, the determined activation energy is low (∼3.2 kJ.mol-1). This result favors photooxidation process. Anthraquinone was the main photodegradation product obtainedvia9,9′-dicarboxylic head-to-head dimer of anthracene that was identified by GC-Mass technique