Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.107, No.7, 1646-1652, 2003
Sensitization effect of porphyrin dye on the photocurrent of Al/polythiophene Schottky-barrier cells
An enhanced photocurrent was obtained in an Al/porphyrin-sensitized regioregular polythiophene (PTh) Schottky-barrier cell when the top energy level of the valence band of PTh solid was more negative than the HOMO energy level of porphyrin. However, when ortho-Substituted meso-phenylporphyrins were employed, the photocurrent enhancement decreased to about half compared to the case when nonsubstituted meso-phenylporphyrins were used. We conclude from these results that both a larger thermodynamic driving force for a photoinduced hole transfer from porphyrin to PTh and a closer distance between the two conjugating planes of porphyrin and PTh are necessary to obtain a larger photocurrent.