Highly efficient photoinduced electron transfer on a benzothiazolium styryl dye Langmnir-Blodgett monolayer modified-ITO electrode

An amphiphilic benzothiazolium styryl dye 2-(4-dihexadecylaminostyryl)benzo thiazole methiodide(DBM) was synthesized and deposited on a conducting tran sparent indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode in H-aggregates by using the Langm uir-Blodgett (LB) technique. Its photoelectrochemistry was investigated in a traditional three-electrode cell. Coincidence of its action spectrum and the absorption spectrum on the ITO indicated that DBM was responsible for t he generation of the photocurrent. Under favorable conditions, its monolaye r quantum yield can reach as high as 4.2%. A mechanism of photoinduced elec tron transfer in this system was proposed based on the experiments and theo retical calculations.