Dye-Sensitized Nonstoichiometric Strontium Titanate Core–Shell Photocathodes for Photoelectrosynthesis Applications

A core–shell approach that utilizes a high-surface-area conducting core and an outer semiconductor shell is exploited here to prepare p-type dye-sensitized solar energy cells operate with minimal applied bias. Photocathodes were prepared by coating thin films of nanocrystalline indium tin oxide 0.8 nm Al2O3 seeding layer, followed the chemical growth nonstoichiometric strontium titanate. Films annealed sensitized either porphyrin chromophore or chromophore–catalyst molecular assembly consisting covalently tethered ruthenium complex. The photoelectrodes produced cathodic photocurrents up −315 μA/cm2 under simulated sunlight (AM1.5G, 100 mW/cm2) in aqueous media, pH 5. photocurrent was increased addition regenerative hole donors system, consistent slow interfacial recombination kinetics, important property electrodes.