Photovoltage study of charge injection from dye molecules into transparent hole and electron conductors

Transient and spectral photovoltage (PV) have been investigated for charge injection from a dye [Ru(dcbpyH2)2(NCS)2] into transparent hole (CuSCN, CuI, CuAlO2) and electron ( TiO2, SnO2:F) conductors. The PV signal rises to a max. within 10 ns to 10 μs, depending on the transparent hole or electron conductor and on the mechanism of charge sepn. The efficiency of hole and electron injection is of the same order while the effective lifetimes of injected charge vary between several μs and 1 ms for the samples used. The thresholds for charge injection from the dye range between 1.6 and 1.8 eV depending on the material on which the dye is adsorbed.