Surface immobilized copper(I) diimine photosensitizers as molecular probes for elucidating the effects of confinement at interfaces for solar energy conversion.

Heteroleptic copper(i) bis(phenanthroline) complexes with surface anchoring carboxylate groups have been synthesized and immobilized on nanoporous metal oxide substrates. The species investigated are responsive to the external environment and this work provides a new strategy to control charge transfer processes for efficient solar energy conversion.