Metal complex useful as sensitizer, dye-sensitized oxide semiconductor electrode and solar cell using same

摘要

A metal complex represented by the formula: (X)nML<1>L<2>, (X)2M(L<1>)2 or (L<1>)2ML<2> wherein M represents a Group VIII metal, X represents a polar group, L<1> represents a phenanthroline containing at least one carboxyl group which may be neutralized, L<2> represents a nitrogen-containing polycyclic compound which may contain one or more substituents, and n is an integer of 1 or 2. A dye-sensitized oxide semiconductor electrode includes an electrically conductive body, an oxide semiconductor film provided on a surface of the electrically conductive body, and the above metal complex. A solar cell may be constructed from the above dye-sensitized oxide semiconductor electrode, a counter electrode, and a redox electrolyte contacting with both electrodes.