Graduate Program
Chemistry
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Semester of Degree Completion
2012
Thesis Director
Mark McGuire
Thesis Committee Member
Kraig Wheeler
Thesis Committee Member
Radu Semeniuc
Abstract
Research in the field of dye sensitized solar cells has been growing rapidly. The challenge in this field is to prepare molecules that absorb in the visible region. An azo dye ligand based on l,0-phenanthroline, "phen-azo-phenol", was prepared and found to absorb at 380 nm in MeOH. UV-Vis spectra of this ligand were recorded in different solvents and in the presence of added acid or base and it appeared that the spectra were shifted to longer wavelength (around 500 nm) in the presence of base and/or basic solvents. This was attributed to deprotonation of the phenol portion of the ligand.
Three Ru (II) polypyridyl complexes based on phen-azo-phenol were prepared and purified by size exclusion chromatography: [(dcbpy)2Run(phen-azo-phenol)]2, [(mcbpy)2Run(phen-azo-phenol)]2+ , and [(dmbpy)2Run(phen-azo-phenol)]2\ where dcbpy = 4,4 '-dicarboxy-2,2 '-bipyridine, mcbpy = 4-methyl-4 '-carboxy-2,2 '-bipyridine, and dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine. The complexes were characterized by UVVis and 1H-NMR. Cyclic voltammetry scans were obtained for the three complexes in DMF and/or CH3CN using 0.1 M TBAH as the electrolyte.
Recommended Citation
Hazeen, Akram, "Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes that utilize azo-dyes to enhance absorption of visible photons" (2012). Masters Theses. 932.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/932
