Synthesis and characterization of bdmppdcbpyRu (II) complex for dye-sensitized solar cells [where bdmpp is 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazoyl)pyridine and dcbpy is 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid]

A new complex, [Ru(II)(dcbpyH2)(bdmpp)Cl](PF6) (where bdmpp is 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazoyl)pyridine, dcbpyH2 is 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid) is synthesized and characterized by mass spectroscopy, by IR, ES-MS and 1H NMR (1D and 2D) spectroscopies. The broad and very high intensity MLCT absorption band in the visible makes this dye potentially beneficial for the photosensitization process. Cyclic voltammetry analysis displays a well reversible oxidation–reduction wave with E1/2=+0.81 vs. Ag–AgCl. Transparent TiO2 thin film electrodes can easily be chemically modified by the complex and the incorporation of the resulting photoelectrodes in wet regenerative solar cells produced a stable photovoltage of 550 mV and gave a continuous photocurrent of 140 μA cm−2.