Our latest research investigates the dynamics and efficiency of photoinduced electron transfer in dye-sensitized photoanodes using various solvent environments, analyzed through nanosecond transient spectroscopy and ultrafast optical-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy. We observed higher electron injection efficiencies in mixed solvent electrolytes compared to aqueous and nonaqueous solvents. Specifically, the dye-sensitized SnO2/TiO2 core/shell electrodes exhibited optimal performance in mixed solvents. This enhancement correlates with the solvent-induced shifts in the TiO2 flat-band potential, influencing electron transfer dynamics. Our findings underscore the significant impact of solvent composition on the electron injection and charge separation processes at the semiconductor interface, providing critical insights for optimizing photoanode performance in solar energy applications.

This research was done in collaboration with the Mallouk and Brudvig groups.

Pre-print available here:
https://chemrxiv.org/engage/chemrxiv/article-details/6629443591aefa6ce153a63b