Heterodinuclear ruthenium(II)-cobalt(III) complexes as models for a new approach to selective cancer treatment

Heterodinuclear ruthenium(ii)-cobalt(iii) complexes have been prepared as part of investigations into a new approach to selective cancer treatment. A cobalt(iii) centre bearing amine ligands, which serve as models for cytotoxic nitrogen mustard ligands, is connected by a bridging ligand to a ruthenium(ii)-polypyridyl moiety. Upon excitation of the ruthenium centre by visible light, electron transfer to the cobalt(iii) centre results in reduction to cobalt(ii) and consequent release of its ligands. We have synthesised several such structures and demonstrated their ability to release ligands upon excitation of the ruthenium centre by visible light

A new terpyridine cobalt complex redox shuttle for dye-sensitized solar cells

A new cobalt-terpyridine redox shuttle ([Co(Cl-phenyl-terpyridine)2]2+/3+) has been synthesized, characterized, computationally investigated and then tested in photovoltaic devices, in conjunction with the prototypical N719 and Z907 ruthenium dyes. Lower efficiencies compared to the reference [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ redox couple were obtained, probably due to increased recombination processes. Improvements in the devices performances were obtained by using chenodeoxycholic acid as surface co-adsorbent and as an electrolyte additive. Moreover, to better rationalize the photovoltaic results, the effect of two different counterions (TFSI and PF6) has been investigated for the reference [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ electrolyte, finding a reduced efficiency for the TFSI-based electrolyte