Dual Fluorescent Molecular Probes
Probes that provide ratiometric detection  

Problem:
Single band emission dyes do not allow for consistent and accurate detection of analyte. Photobleaching and lamp intensities vary.

Solution:  New class of dual fluorescent dyes offer ratiometric signals and internal calibration.

 

 

 
Dual fluorescence emission from N-Aryl-1,8-naphthalimides

Dye 2 from matrix described above

 

  

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DF spectra of compounds 2, 4,(1.0 x10-5 M) in solvents indicated. Fluorescence spectra are normalized to the maximum of each data set.

 
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Synthesis of Low Cost Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
N3 dye developed by Michael Grätzel  

Problem:
(1) Current price of Grätzel dye (aka N3 dye) $1500/gram. 
For comparison at current market price 1 gram Gold = $28.
(2) Organometallic dyes offer little in terms of synthetic versatility.  High cost based on ruthenium as precious metal.

Proposed Solution:  Develop new class of organic dyes at economically viable lower cost.  Incorporate donor/acceptor groups to generate molecular dyads that promote stronger electron induction into conduction band of TiO2 than N3.

Ruthenium organometallic based Grätzel standard dye used in DSSC applications.

 
 
 

APS dye recently prepared from our group

Naphthalimide based dyes  

Proposed synthesis of donor/acceptor molecular dyad

 

Preliminary results of our 1st generation dyes with TiO2

Dye  Time (min)   Voc (mV)

APS  10      492.8

N3     10           750
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