cis-Bis(isothiocyanato)(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)( 4,4′-bis(5-(hexylthio)thiophen-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)

Cis-Bis(isothiocyanato)(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)( 4,4′-bis(5-(hexylthio)thiophen-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II), also called C106 Dye,  is a ruthenium-based organometallic complex. Because of its high-absorptioncoefficient, it is often used to fabricate of a high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cell. The light-harvesting efficiency of the device can be improved by  selecting two sensitizers (C106 and organic D131) as co-sensitization. The complementary absorption spectra, favorable energy level alignment, and better surface coverage of the two dyes can reduce recombination and increase electron lifetime, improve J_sc and V_oc[1-3]. 

A ruthenium dye for high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells

Power conversion efficiencies of 11.7-12.1% achieved in high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells under air-mass 1.5G simulated sunlights.

[1] High-Efficiency Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: The Influence of Lithium Ions on Exciton Dissociation, Charge Recombination, and Surface States. DOI:10.1021/nn101384e.
[2] A selective co-sensitization approach to increase photon conversion efficiency and electron lifetime in dye-sensitized solar cells. DOI: 10.1039/c2cp42959d.
[3] Novel and Stable D–A?π–A Dyes for Efficient Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b00067.