Abstract
The photoelectrochemical behavior of dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells based on a TiO2 layer sensitized with ruthenium components, including an absorber, ruthenium(II)bis(2,2′-bipyridine)([2,2′-bipyridine]-4,4′-diylbis(phosphonic acid)) dibromide (RuP), and a catalyst, ruthenium(II) tris(4-methylpyridine)(4-(4-(2,6-bis((l1-oxidanyl)carbonyl)pyridin-4-yl)phenyl) pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) (RuOEC), was investigated in the following water-based electrolyte configurations: KCl (pH ≈ 5), HCl (pH ≈ 3), ethylphoshonic acid (pH ≈ 3) with a different KCl concentration, and a standard phosphate buffer (pH ≈ 7). The rate of charge transfer on the photoanode’s surface was found to increase in line with the increase in the concentration of chloride anions (Cl−) in the low pH electrolyte. This effect is discussed in the context of pH influence, ionic strength, and specific interaction, studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in dark conditions and upon illumination of the photoanodes. The correlations between photocurrent decay traces and CV studies were also observed.
Highlights
In nature, solar energy is stored in the form of chemical bonds through a natural photosynthesis system
The key elements of natural photosynthesis are light-harvesting by chlorophylls, spatial charge separation after photoexcitation, and catalytic water oxidation or reduction reactions, which lead to the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)’s redox active hydrogen
In the recent trend of water splitting studies, considerable attention has been paid to dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPCs) incorporating ruthenium sensitizers as absorbers and/or catalysts [1,4]
Summary
Solar energy is stored in the form of chemical bonds through a natural photosynthesis system. Artificial photosynthesis is a bioinspired chemical approach, aiming to emulate the general principles of the natural processes using much simpler man-made materials, and leading to the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy in the form of hydrogen [1]. In the recent trend of water splitting studies, considerable attention has been paid to dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPCs) incorporating ruthenium sensitizers as absorbers and/or catalysts [1,4]. These compounds, as the chromophores, exhibit many attractive features such as strong light absorption in the visible range, appropriate highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)
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