Improvement of the photoelectric conversion efficiencies of a half-photocell using electrodeposited poly(2,2′-bithiophene) through the incorporation of meso-tetra(3-thienyl)porphyrin and electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

Abstract Electrodeposited thin films of poly(tetrathienylporphyrin+bithiophene)/polyethylenedioxythiophene, polybithiophene/polyethylenedioxythiophene, and polybithiophene were prepared on indium tin oxide transparent electrodes by sequential electropolymerization. Their photochemical properties were evaluated using absorption and fluorescence spectra. These hierarchically structured film-modified electrodes were employed as working electrodes in a three-electrode electrochemical cell, which generated a cathodic photocurrent in the presence of C 60 as a sacrificial electron acceptor. The cathodic photocurrent based on electron transfer from the polybithiophene film to C 60 was improved by the insertion of polyethylenedioxythiophene between the polybithiophene film and the electrode. The photocurrent was also improved by incorporating tetrathieneylporphyrin into the polybithiophene film.