The research interests of the synthetic group are centered on the design of model compounds to study and control the binding of molecules and electronic processes on nanostructured semiconductor materials. This research finds application in the development of new types of solar cells and sensing devices.
Dye models on semiconductors. Since in 1996 donor-spacer-acceptor systems with anchoring group on semiconductors and their use as models to study electron transfer at semiconductors interfaces has beed studied. Elena Galoppini started using tripod-shaped complexes of Ruthenium to study the influence of distance of a dye on a semiconductor surface on electron injection and solar cells efficiency.
More recently,the group has designed and synthesized model dyes (aromatic hydrocarbons,porphyrins,inorganic complexes) that that bind flat on the surface or perpendicular to the surface of semiconductors. Studies of solar cells prepared with such models have shown how distance,orientation,aggregation and electronic communication between the dye and the interface dramatically influence crucial properties of solar cells such as efficiency and photovoltage.