Abstract: A photosensitizer complex of formulae (Ia) MX3Lt or (Ib) MXYLt in which M is a transition metal selected from ruthenium, osmium, iron, rhenium and technetium, preferably ruthenium or osmium; each X is a co-ligand independently selected from NCS—, Cl—, Br—, I—, CN—, NCO—, H2O, NCN2−; pyridine unsubstituted or substituted by at least one group selected from vinyl, primary, secondary or tertiary amine, OH and C1-30 alkyl, preferably NCS—; and Lt is a tridentate ligand comprising heterocycles such as pyridine, thiophene, imidazole, pyrazole, triazole, carrying at least one carboxylic, phosphoric, hydoxamic acid or a chelating group. A photovoltaic cell comprising an electrically conductive layer deposited on a support to which at least one titanium dioxide layer has been applied and, as a photosensitizer applied to the titanium dioxide layer, a photosensitizer complex of formula (Ia) or Ib) as specified above.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2001
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Inventors:
Michael Grätzel, Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin, Péter Péchy