A New Factor Affecting the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells in the Presence of 4-tert-Butylpyridine

This study explores a new factor affecting the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells in the presence of 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP) by elucidating interactions between TBP and Ru(H(2)dcbpy)(2)(NCS)(2) (N3 dye; H(2)dcbpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid). Combining experimental and computational studies, we reveal that these interactions result from the formation of a hydrogen bond between the oxygen atom of carboxylate groups of the N3 dye and the hydrogen atom of the N-containing heterocycle of TBP. The effects of interactions between TBP and the N3 dye on J(sc) are also discussed. (C) 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics