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Product Code B1391-5g
Price £175 ex. VAT

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A well-known bipyridyl ligand with dicarboxylic acid anchoring groups

Readily available for the synthesis of organometallic photosensitizer dyes in development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)


2,2′-Bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (dcbpy, CAS number 6813-38-3), have two carboxylic electron withdrawing groups at 4,4'-position, is a well-known bipyridyl derivate that is used for the synthesis of organometallic compounds in application of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).

In DSSCs, the double carboxylic groups are chemically anchored onto the nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films by forming ester-like linkage to improve the adsorption stability and the electronic coupling between the dye and the semiconductor film surface. Once a dye molecule absorbs the energy from the light, an exciton enters the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), which is localized onto the anchor-containing bipyridyl ligand with conjugation being extended from the pyridine into the anchor group. The exciton can then be effectively injected into the semiconductor film while the bipyridyl groups are chemically bonded to the film.

2,2′-Bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid are found in the well-established DSSCs dyes such as N3, N719, Z907 and K19 dyes, with energy conversion efficiency from light to electricity over 10% recorded under AM 1.5 irradiation.

General Information

CAS Number 6813-38-3
Chemical Formula C12H8N2O4
Full Name 2,2′-Bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid
Molecular Weight 244.20 g/mol
Synonyms Dcbpy, 2,2′-Bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid
Classification / Family Bipyridyl derivatives, Semiconductor synthesis intermediates, Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Chemical Structure

2,2′-Bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (dcbpy) chemical structure, 6813-38-3
2,2′-Bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (dcbpy), CAS 6813-38-3

Product Details

Purity >98% (1H NMR)
Melting Point >250 °C
Appearance White powder

MSDS Documentation

2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid2,2′-Bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid MSDS Sheet

Literature and Reviews

  1. Stable, High-Efficiency Ionic-Liquid-Based Mesoscopic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, D. Kuang et al., Small, 3 (12), 2094-2102 (2007); DOI: 10.1002/smll.200700211.
  2. High molar extinction coefficient amphiphilic ruthenium sensitizers for efficient and stable mesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cells, L. Giribabu et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2, 770-773 (2009); DOI: 10.1039/B903967H.
  3. The photovoltaic stability of, bis(isothiocyanato)rlutheniurn(II)-bis-2, 2′bipyridine-4, 4′-dicarboxylic acid and related sensitizers, O. Kohle et al., Adv. Mater., 9 (11), 904-906 (1997); DOI: 10.1002/adma.19970091111.
  4. Redox and photochemical behaviour of ruthenium(II) complexes with H2dcbpy ligand (H2dcbpy = 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid), E. Eskelinen et al., J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 2745-2752 (2000); DOI: 10.1039/B004751L.
  5. High Molar Extinction Coefficient Heteroleptic Ruthenium Complexes for Thin Film Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, D. Kuan et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128 (12), 4146–4154 (2006); DOI: 10.1021/ja058540p.
  6. Highly efficient dye sensitized solar cells based on a novel ruthenium sensitizer, S. Lu et al., J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron. 24, 2346–2350 (2013): DOI: 10.1007/s10854-013-1099-0.
  7. High Molar Extinction Coefficient Ion-Coordinating Ruthenium Sensitizer for Efficient and Stable Mesoscopic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, D. Kuang et al., Adv. Funct. Mater., 17 (1), 154-160 (2007); DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200600483.
  8. Heteroleptic ruthenium complex containing substituted triphenylamine hole-transport unit as sensitizer for stable dye-sensitized solar cell, J. Yum et al., Nano energy, 1 (1), 6-12 (2012); DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2011.08.004.
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