Axial anchoring designed silicon–porphyrin sensitizers for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Using silicon as a central atom of porphyrin allows the introduction of axial ligands, which are not only employed to prevent the aggregation of the macrocycles but also anchor the dyes onto the TiO2 surface. A dye-sensitized solar cell with this porphyrin sensitizer achieved a broad IPCE of around 40-60% between 380 and 670 nm.