Smooth Electron Transfer from a Photoexcited Dye to Semiconductor Electrode Through a Swingable Molecular Interface

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  • TAKATSUJI Yoshiyuki
    Department of Biological Functions Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Advanced Catalytic Transformation program for Carbon utilization (ACT-C), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
  • SAKAKURA Tatsuya
    Department of Biological Functions Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology
  • MURAKAMI Naoya
    Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Advanced Catalytic Transformation program for Carbon utilization (ACT-C), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
  • HARUYAMA Tetsuya
    Department of Biological Functions Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Research center for Eco-fitting Technology, Kyushu Institute of Technology Advanced Catalytic Transformation program for Carbon utilization (ACT-C), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

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Abstract

The transfer of photoexcited electrons from a fluorescent dye molecule to a semiconductor electrode is regulated by the interfacial design between the electrode and the dye. In the case of larger functional molecules, the regulation becomes observable because of molecular steric hindrance on the solid electrode surface. We have studied the effectiveness of a “swingable” functional molecule layer on a solid substrate for immobilized catalysts and electrochemical reactions. The swingable molecular interface offers the possibility of a similar outcome in photoexcited current generation. The swingable design of the molecular layer may allow smooth current flow from the dye to the semiconductor electrode, because the dye molecules come in close proximity to the semiconductor surface through the swinging action of the linker molecules. In the present study, FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide) electrodes were prepared with two types of dye-tagged molecular layers, differing only in the type of linker between the dye and the FTO surface: one with a flexible peptide linker capable of swinging back and forth and around, and the other with a rigid peptide linker. The two dye-sensitized FTO electrodes were assayed using photoexcited current measurements. As per the experimental results, the FTO electrode modified with the swingable linker molecule produced higher photoexcited current than that of the FTO modified with the rigid molecule linker.

Journal

  • Electrochemistry

    Electrochemistry 84 (6), 390-393, 2016

    The Electrochemical Society of Japan

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