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Photovoltaic conversion by macromolecular thionine films

Nature volume 292, pages 224–225 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

On excitation by light, thionine dye oxidizes Fe2+ ions in solution and the photoproducts undergo dark reactions to restore the starting materials. The photogalvanic (photovoltaic) potentials generated by this cyclic process can be demonstrated by means of a cell with two platinum electrodes, one illuminated and one in the dark. Light is converted more effectively into electricity in the totally illuminated thin-layer (TITL) cell with platinum and tin oxide electrodes, but the efficiency of the conversion is limited by energy-wasting back reactions in solution and by restriction on the concentration of the dye1. We now show that these limitations can be overcome if thick films (∼10 µm) of thionine condensed with macromolecules are coated on to inert electrodes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Madras, Tiruchirapalli, 620 020, Tamil Nadu, India

    R. Tamilarasan & P. Natarajan

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  1. R. Tamilarasan
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  2. P. Natarajan
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Tamilarasan, R., Natarajan, P. Photovoltaic conversion by macromolecular thionine films. Nature 292, 224–225 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/292224a0

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