The authors have designed and synthesized new chiral salen-type metal (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) complexes (1-5) for new conceptual dyes (co-sensitizer or colorful multi-dyes) of DSSCs (dye-sensitized solar cells). The authors measured substituent effects on their absorption spectra and redox properties, and compared them with TD-DFT (time-dependent density functional theory) calculations. Electron withdrawing groups resulted in red-shift of ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra. For the first time, the authors also proposed and confirmed the importance of substituent effects on their electric transition dipole moments, calculated by TD-DFT for designing dyes. Chemisorption for TiO 2 of the complex by carboxyl groups was confirmed by XPS measurement. In view of electronic properties, all compounds have the possibility to be dyes of DSSCs.

The title compound, C16H16N2O4·3H2O, was synthesized from (1R,2R)-1,2-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine and terephthalaldehydic acid. The compound crystallizes from water as a double zwitterion with protonated amine groups and deprotonated carboxylate groups. The dihedral angle formed by the aromatic rings is 3.86 (11)°. In the crystal, N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds link molecules into a three-dimensional network.

New chiral salen-type Cu(II) complexes (1-9) were prepared, and the effects of different substituent groups on their absorption spectra were evaluated using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). Electron withdrawing groups resulted in a red-shift and an increase in the peak intensity. According to cyclic voltammetry analyses, the introduction of electron withdrawing groups brought the redox potentials (E 0) in agreement with the orbital level energies determined via TD-DFT. The reduction potentials for 1-9 are less than 0.500 V, and therefore, it is electrochemically possible to dope electrons in TiO2. In addition, the oxidation potentials are greater than +0.200 V, indicating that it is electrochemically possible to regenerate the dyes. Preproduction dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated using compounds 1-9 generated electricity. In particular, the DSSC prepared using 2 (which has electron withdrawing groups and the largest maximum absorption) exceeded the power conversion efficiency of DSSC fabricated using N3, which is a commonly used Ru(II) complex.