Photoelectrochemical characterisation and optimisation of electrodeposited ZnO thin films sensitised by porphyrins and phthalocyanines

K. Nonomura; T. Loewenstein; E. Michaelis; D. Wöhrle; T. Yoshida; H. Minoura; D. Schlettwein

doi:10.1039/B604352F

Photoelectrochemical characterisation and optimisation of electrodeposited ZnO thin films sensitised by porphyrins and phthalocyanines

K. Nonomura,^a T. Loewenstein,^a E. Michaelis,^b D. Wöhrle,^b T. Yoshida,^c H. Minoura^c and D. Schlettwein^a

^a Institute of Applied Physics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, Giessen, Germany
E-mail: schlettwein@uni-giessen.de
Fax: +49 641 9933409
Tel: +49 641 9933401

^b Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Bremen, P.O. Box 33 04 40, Bremen, Germany
E-mail: woehrle@chemie.uni-bremen.de
Fax: +49 421 2184935
Tel: +49 421 2182805

^c ERES Division, Graduate School of Engineering, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu, Japan
E-mail: yoshida@apchem.gifu-u.ac.jp
Fax: +81 58 2932593
Tel: +81 58 2932593

Abstract

Hybrid thin films of crystalline ZnO modified by 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato zinc (TSTPPZn) and 2,9,16,23-tetrasulfophthalocyaninatozinc(II) (TSPcZn) were prepared by electrochemical deposition from aqueous zinc salt solutions. A “one-step” process with the sensitisers adsorbed during ZnO deposition represented the most simple approach. ZnO was also grown independently in the presence of Eosin Y as a structure-directing agent, which was then removed and the sensitisers were chemisorbed from solutions (“readsorption” method). The photoelectrochemical characteristics of the electrodes were studied by photocurrent spectra and by time-resolved photocurrent measurements in an acetonitrile-based solution containing I₃⁻/I⁻ as the redox electrolyte. In films with both sensitisers present, both sensitisers worked in parallel providing panchromatic sensitisation. Recombination of electrons injected into the conduction band of ZnO with remaining holes in the HOMO of the sensitisers was indicated for the one-step films, but was considerably suppressed for the films prepared by the readsorption method. Films prepared by the readsorption method showed a significantly increased efficiency by an increased surface area and suppressed recombination.

Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/B604352F

Article type

Paper

Submitted

24 Mar 2006

Accepted

30 Jun 2006

First published

19 Jul 2006

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Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2006,8, 3867-3875

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Photoelectrochemical characterisation and optimisation of electrodeposited ZnO thin films sensitised by porphyrins and phthalocyanines

K. Nonomura, T. Loewenstein, E. Michaelis, D. Wöhrle, T. Yoshida, H. Minoura and D. Schlettwein, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2006, 8, 3867 DOI: 10.1039/B604352F

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Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Photoelectrochemical characterisation and optimisation of electrodeposited ZnO thin films sensitised by porphyrins and phthalocyanines

Abstract

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Photoelectrochemical characterisation and optimisation of electrodeposited ZnO thin films sensitised by porphyrins and phthalocyanines

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