Promising dye sensitizer on solar cell from complexes of metal and rhodamine B

Herein a series of complexes from metals (Fe, Co, Ni) and rhodamine B as ligand were synthesized, characterized and applied as promising dye sensitizer on solar cell. Complexes were obtained from the reaction of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) salts and rhodamine B with mole ratio 1:3. UV-Visible spectroscopy confirms all of complexes showing Metal Ligand Charge Transfer (MLCT) absorption band at 258 nm and stability constant (log K) of complexes were 23.47 for Fe-Rb and Ni-Rb and 23.76 for Co-Rb. Infrared spectroscopy confirms metal-ligand coordination through carbonyl (CO) and methoxy (CH₃O) groups. Electrical conductivity analysis indicates that all of complexes are ionic complexes. All of complexes can be utilized as promising dye sensitizer with efficiency 2.03% (Fe), 0.59% (Co), and 0.12% (Ni). Goal of this research is to help solve dye waste problem and energy crisis.