Abstract
Kinetic studies at TiO2/bithiophene/electrolyte interfaces were conducted, and their parameters to the solar cell functions were related. The solar cell based upon the bithiophene sensitised TiO2 films resulted in the maximum IPCE of approximately 25 % at 400 nm. Comparison of emission studies between the bithiophene adsorbed TiO2 and Al2O3 revealed the electron injection from the excited bithiophene into the Ti02 with the efficiency of nearly 100 %. The charge recombination between the bithiophene cation and the electron in the TiO2 appeared to be fast with a half decay time of 70 s in comparison to the ruthenium dye sensitized TiO2 film (~1 ms). The bithiophene regeneration rate with the half time of 20 s was slightly faster, clarifying the inferior photocurrent performance.
