The adsorption and XPS of triphenylamine-based organic dye molecules on rutile TiO2(110) prepared by UHV-compatible electrospray deposition

‍Reference:

Alharbi, N., Hart, J. and O'Shea, J.N., 2023. The adsorption and XPS of triphenylamine-based organic dye molecules on rutile TiO2 (110) prepared by UHV-compatible electrospray deposition. Surface Science, 735, p.122323.

PI-KEM Product referenced:

TiO2(110) crystal

Abstract:

We present an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of a series of organic triphenylamine-based organic dye molecules (D5, SC4 and R6) deposited onto an atomically clean TiO2(110) single crystal surface by vacuum-compatible electrospray deposition. Coverages from sub-monolayer to few-layer are explored to determine the nature of the adsorption bond to the surface. In all three cases the dyes are found to anchor to the oxide surface via the deprotonation of the carboxylic group with little evidence of secondary bonding interactions. The XPS measurements show the intact deposition of the dyes onto the surface in a UHV environment facilitating the study of these model dye-sensitised solar cell systems using surface science techniques.

Keywords

Single Crystal, Deposition, Electrospray, Adsorption, Solar Cell

Authors:

Nouf Alharbi a b, Jack Hart a, James N. O'Shea a

Organisation / Department Address:

a School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1ED, UK

b Department of Physics, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia