Advanced Materials, Vol.16, No.14, 1177-1177, 2004
Molecular-level insulation: An approach to controlling interfacial charge transfer
A novel approach to the attachment of molecular dyes to nanocrystalline TiO2 electrodes (see Figure) is reported. Cyclodextrin encapsulation of an organic dye is shown to result in strong binding to the metal oxide electrode. The encapsulation furthermore results in a well-defined spatial separation of the organic dye from the electrode surface, allowing the photogeneration of a long-lived charge-separated state.