In-Situ Probing of H2O Effects on a Ru-Complex Adsorbed on TiO2 Using Ambient Pressure Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Dye-sensitized interfaces in photocatalytic and solar cells systems are significantly affected by the choice of electrolyte solvent. In the present work, the interface between the hydrophobic Ru-complex Z907, a commonly used dye in molecular solar cells, and TiO2 was investigated with ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-PES) to study the effect of water atmosphere on the chemical and electronic structure of the dye/TiO2 interface. Both laboratory-based Al Ja as well as synchrotron-based ambient pressure measurements using hard X-ray (APHAXPES) were used. AP-HAXPES data were collected at pressures of up to 25 mbar (i.e., the vapor pressure of water at room temperature) showing the presence of an adsorbed water overlayer on the sample surface. Adopting a quantitative AP-HAXPES analysis methodology indicates a stable stoichiometry in the presence of the water atmosphere. However, solvation effects due to the presence of water were observed both in the valence band region and for the S 1s core level and the results were compared with DFT calculations of the dye-water complex.