| abstract |
The invention provides a dye-sensitized photovoltaic device which comprises: a first electrode; a second electrode; and, disposed between the first and second electrodes: an electron acceptor material which comprises a semiconductive metal oxide, a redox mediator material, and a photosensitizing dye which comprises a dendrimer of formula (I): [X] m -CORE-[[Y] p -[DENDRON]] n wherein n, m, p, CORE, DENDRON, X and Y are as defined herein. The invention further provides a photosensitizing dye which is a dendrimer of formula (I), and the use, as a photosensitizing dye in a dye-sensitized photovoltaic device, of a compound which is a dendrimer of formula (T). Novel dendrimers of formula (T) are also provided. Novel catechol-based compounds are also provided. The catechol-based compounds can be used together with the dendrimers of formula (T) as the photosensitizing dyes in a photovoltaic device. Accordingly, the invention further provides photosensitizing dyes and dye-sensitized photovoltaic devices comprising such catechol compounds, and the use of such catechol compounds as photosensitizing dyes in a dye-sensitized photovoltaic device. |