Dye adsorption on TiO₂ electrodes studied using modulated photocurrent measurements

An in-situ modulated photocurrent technique to study kinetics of dye adsorption and to determine binding constants of dye molecules on the TiO₂ surface is presented. An AC-photocurrent signal is measured, when a TiO₂ electrode is in contact with the dye bath, containing an inert salt for increased conductivity, upon excitation with on/off modulated light. This method provides relatively rapid results and is very useful for comparative studies. Organic dyes (D149, D5, D35) and ruthenium complexes (N719, Z907, black dye) were investigated and the effect of a coadsorbant in the dye bath (deoxycholic acid) was also analyzed. - Highlights: • A rapid method for in-situ study of dye-adsorption in dye-sensitized solar cells • Dye adsorption follows the Langmuir isotherm when an inert salt is added to the dye bath. • A series of organic and metal–organic sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells is analyzed