Neutral cyclometalated platinum(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes [Pt(C^C*)(O^O)] with C^C* ligands based on 1-phenyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene and 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene, as well as acetylacetonato (O^O = acac) and 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)propan-1,3-dionato (O^O = mesacac) ancillary ligands were synthesized and characterized. All complexes are emissive at room temperature in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix with emission maxima in the blue region of the spectrum. High quantum efficiencies and short decay times were observed for all complexes with mesacac ancillary ligands. The sterically demanding mesityl groups of the mesacac ligand effectively prevent molecular stacking. The emission behavior of these emitters is in general independent of the position of the nitrogen in the backbone of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) unit and a variety of substituents in 4-position of the phenyl unit, meta to the cyclometalating bond.

This thesis is concerned with measuring ultrafast electron dynamics taking place in dye-sensitized mesoporous semiconductor films employed as working electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). An understanding of these ultrafast charge transfer mechanisms is essential for designing efficient photovoltaic (PV) devices with high photon-to-current conversion efficiency. Optical-pump terahertz-probe (OPTP) spectroscopy is a sub-picosecond resolution, non-contact, photoconductivity measurement technique which can be used to directly measure charge carrier dynamics within nanostructured materials without the need for invoking complex modelling schemes. A combination of OPTP and photovoltaic measurements on mesoporous TiO2 films show an early-time intra-particle electron mobility of 0.1 cm2/(Vs). This value is an order of magnitude lower than that measured in bulk TiO2 and can be partly explained by the restricted electron movement because of geometrical constraints and increased trap sites in the nanostructured material. In addition, the mesoporous film behaves like a nanostructured composite material, with the TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in a low dielectric medium (air or vacuum), leading to lower apparent electron mobility. THz mobility measured in similar mesoporous ZnO and SnO2 films sensitized with the same dye is calculated to be 0.17 cm2/(Vs) for ZnO and 1.01 cm2/(Vs) for SnO2. Possible reasons for the deviation from mobilities reported in literature for the respective bulk materials have been discussed. The conclusion of this study is that while electron mobility values for nanoporous TiO2 films are approaching theoretical maximum values, both intra- and inter-particle electron mobility in mesoporous ZnO and SnO2 films offer considerable scope for improvement. OPTP has also been used to measure electron injection rates in dye-sensitized TiO2, ZnO and SnO2 nanostructured films. They are seen to proceed in the order TiO2 >SnO2 >ZnO. While the process is complete within a few picoseconds in TiO2/Z907, it is seen to extend beyond a nanosecond in case of ZnO. These measurements correlate well with injection efficiencies determined from DSCs fabricated from identical mesoporous films, suggesting that the slow injection components limit the overall solar cell photocurrent. The reasons for this observed difference in charge injection rates have been explored within. It is now fairly common practice in the photovoltaic community to apply a coating of a wide band-gap material over the metal-oxide nanoparticles in DSCs to improve device performance. However, the underlying reasons for the improvement are not fully understood. With this motivation, OPTP spectroscopy has been used to study how the conformal coating affects early-time mechanisms, such as electron injection, trapping or diffusion length. The electron injection process is unaffected in case of TiCl4-treated TiO2 and MgO-treated ZnO, while it becomes much slower in case of MgO-treated SnO2. Finally, a light-soaking effect observed in SnO2-based solid-state DSCs has been examined in detail using THz spectroscopy and transient PV measurement techniques. It is concluded that continued exposure to light results in a rearrangement of charged species at the metal-oxide surface. This leads to an increase in the density of acceptor states or a lowering of the SnO2 conduction band edge with respect to the dye excited state energy level, ultimately leading to faster electron transport and higher device photocurrents.

The exciton diffusion length, which is the distance an exciton can diffuse in its lifetime, is an important parameter that has a critical impact on the operation of many organic optoelectronic devices, including organic solar cells, light emitting diodes and lasers. Knowledge of the exciton diffusion length can be a powerful aid for the design and optimisation of these devices. This thesis details the development of techniques based on time-resolved fluorescence for measuring the exciton diffusion in organic semiconductors. Two main methods were used to investigate exciton diffusion in the conjugated polymers P3HT, MEH-PPV and F8BT: the surface quenching technique and exciton-exciton annihilation. In particular, the surface quenching technique was adapted to avoid some of the potential pitfalls that have plagued earlier measurements. Using a titania quencher, measurements were performed using the surface quenching technique and fitted with an exciton diffusion model, allowing the calculation of the exciton diffusion length. Results from measurements of the exciton-exciton annihilation rate, which is a diffusion controlled process, where in good agreement with those from surface quenching, confirming the robustness of this twofold approach. A novel method for the control of the β-phase conformation in PFO films was used to produce films containing varying concentrations of β-phase. Exciton-exciton annihilation was used to investigate exciton diffusion in these films, revealing a gradual rise with increasing β-phase fraction due to improved interconnectivity. This work demonstrates how simple processing techniques can be used to control both film morphology and the exciton diffusion. The thickness dependence of the photoluminescence lifetime in conjugated polymers is a phenomenon that has so far received little attention and, thus, remained unexplained. This study demonstrates that it is not due to exciton quenching by external factors, but can be explained by a change in the morphology with decreasing film thickness.

The design of dyes for NiO-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has drawn attention owing to their potential applications in photocatalysis and because they are indispensable for the development of tandem dye-sensitized solar cells. The understanding of the electron transfer mechanisms and dynamics is beneficial to guide further dye design and further improve the performance of photocathode in solar cells and solar fuel devices. Time-resolved spectroscopy techniques, especially femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, supply sufficient resolution to get insights into the charge transfer processes in p-type dye sensitized solar cell and solar fuel devices. In paper I-V, several kinds of novel organic “push-pull” and inorganic charge transfer dyes for sensitization of p-type NiO, were systematically investigated by time-resolved spectroscopy, and photo-induced charge transfer dynamics of the organic/inorganic dyes were summarized. The excited state and reduced state intermediates were investigated in solution phase as references to confirm the charge injection and recombination on the NiO surface. The charge recombination kinetics is remarkably heterogeneous in some cases occurring on time scales spanning at least six orders of magnitude even for the same dye. In this thesis, we also proposed a novel concept of solid state p-type dye sensitized solar cells (p-ssDSSCs) for the first time (paper VI), using an organic dye P1 as sensitizer on mesoporous NiO and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as electron conductor. Femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy gave evidence for sub-ps hole injection from excited P1 to NiO, followed by electron transfer from P1●- to PCBM. The p-ssDSSCs device showed an impressive 620 mV open circuit photovoltage. Chapter 6 (paper VII) covers the study of electron transfer mechanisms in a covalently linked dye-catalyst (PB-2) sensitized NiO photocathode, towards hydrogen producing solar fuel devices. Hole injection from excited dye (PB-2*) into NiO VB takes place on dual time scales, and the reduced PB-2 (PB-2●-) formed then donates an electron to the catalyst unit.  The subsequent regeneration efficiency of PB-2 by the catalyst unit (the efficiency of catalyst reduction) is determined to ca. 70%.

Uma nova série de porfirinas catiônicas e seus respectivos metalocomplexos de Zn(II) e Cu(II) foi sintetizada. Esta nova série apresenta resíduos benzílicos substituídos ligados aos grupos piridínicos presentes nas posições meso do anel porfirínico. Estes compostos foram caracterizados e investigados utilizando várias técnicas, tais como: espectroscopia eletrônica de absorção e de emissão, RMN-1H, espectroscopia vibracional IR e raman ressonante, voltametria cíclica, espectroeletroquímica e fotólise por pulso de laser. Não foram observadas evidências de auto-agregação destes compostos em água, entretanto, estes apresentam agregação diferenciada em função da força iônica do meio, do ânion do eletrólito utilizado e do tamanho do substituinte periférico. Os potenciais de redução apresentam dependência ao caráter aceptor/doador de elétrons dos substituintes benzílicos. As porfirinas desta série apresentam parâmetros fotofísicos da mesma ordem de grandeza e comparáveis ao composto modelo 5, 10, 15,20-tetrakis(1-metilpiridínio-4-il)-porfirina (H2TMPyP) e seus metaloderivados em meio homogêneo. Em meio microhetrogêneo são observadas alterações nestes parâmetros fotofísicos, existindo um comportamento diferenciado em relação à H2TMPyP. Uma análise global dos resultados evidência que estes derivados são promissores fotossensibilizadores em sistemas de terapia fotodinâmica. / A new series of cationic porphyrins and metalloporphyrins derivatives of Cu(II) and Zn(II) has been synthesized. These compounds show substituted benzylic residues attached to the piridil groups at the meso porphyrin ring positions. All porphyrins and metalloporphyrin have been fully characterized and investigated, employing approaches such as elemental analysis, electronic, vibrational and proton NMR spectroscopy, flash photolysis, and cyclic voltammetry. There is no evidence of self-aggregation of the porphyrin derivatives in pure water, however the addition of inorganic electrolytes to water solution induces aggregation in different extension, which depends on the nature of the electrolyte, the total ionic strength, and the benzylic substituent. Studies of cyclic voltammetry show that the reduction potentials are directly dependent on the electron donor/acceptor characteristics of the benzylic substituent and of the coordinated metal ion. All photophysical parameters investigated in homogeneous media are very similar through porphyrins and metalloporphyrins studied and are comparable to the model compound, the 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (H2TMPyP). Therefore, in micro-heterogeneous media, the new series of porphyrins presents some differences in the photophysical parameters, when compared to the model compound. In conclusion, the present results reveal that these new cationic porphyrins can be useful as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.

O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de estudar os processos fotofísicos em filmes automontados de poli( -fenileno vinileno), ou PPV, sintetizados e processados no Grupo de Polímeros Prof. Bernhard Gross (GPBG) do IFSC, através dos processos de transferência de energia para o azocromóforo BY ou dentro da própria cadeia do PPV, através de um gradiente energético. O trabalho está focado no entendimento dos canais de relaxação energéticos, durante a difusão espectral, onde atuam o decaimento, radiativo e não radiativo. Pelo uso de uma engenharia molecular específica, propiciada pelo método de automontagem, heteroestruturas foram fabricadas para o estudo da transferência de energia (TEE) para azocromóforos, separados por uma camada separadora inerte. A novidade está no fato de podermos selecionar os estados do BY através da mudança do pH da solução, durante o processo de fabricação dos filmes. Com este sistema foi possível comprovar que os estados intermediários, durante a difusão espectral, desempenham um importante papel para a TEE, podendo transferir a excitação molecular para camadas adjacentes em heteroestruturas orgânicas. Este resultado, juntamente com a nova metodologia adotada para a conversão do PTHT em PPV, a adoção do íon de cadeia longa dodecilbenzenosulfônico (DBS), foi suficiente para desenvolvermos novas estruturas de TEE, possibilitando a modulação energética dos estados HOMO e LUMO dos polímeros conjugados. Este resultado comprova a TEE nos estágios iniciais da difusão espectral concomitantemente direcionar a excitação energética para regiões específicas das heteroestruturas, implicando em uma nova metodologia para o aumento da eficiência em dispositivos orgânicos luminescentes. / The subject of this work is the study of the photophysics process in poly (p-phenylene vinylene) self-assembled films (PPV), with were synthesized and processed at the Grupo de Polímeros Prof. Bernhard Gross (GPBG) of the IF8C, by the energy transfer process (TEE) for, the azochromophore Brilliant Yellow (BY) or inside the PPV polymeric chain by an energetic gradient. We are interesting in the energetic relaxation pathway meaning, during the spectral diffusion, were the decay acts, radioactive and non-radioactive. By using a specific molecular engineering, propitiated by the self¬assembly method, heterostructures were done to study the energy transfer (TEE) to azochromophores, separated by an inert spacer. The novelty is on the ability of sort the BY states by changes on the pH solution, during the film fabrication process. With such system, we could prove that intermediary states, during spectral diffusion, played an important role for the TEE, and should been transfer to adjacent blocks. This result, with the new methodology adopted for the PTHT to PPV conversion, a long chain ion dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS), was enough to develop new structures for the TEE, build by a HOMO and LUMO energetic gradient states in conjugated polymers. These results verify the TEE in the initiate states of the spectral diffusion concomitance with the TEE for a specific film\'s region, implicating in a new methodology for an efficiency increase in organic luminescent devices.

Neste trabalho, o método de Monte Carlo e a resolução da Equação Mestra foram utilizados para simular o processo de difusão espectral da excitação em um sistema polimérico emissor de luz. A metodologia utilizada incorpora a relaxação energética intramolecular, a migração de energia incoerente entre segmentos conjugados e o processo final radiativo (luminescência). O principal objetivo é comparar os resultados da simulação e de experimentos envolvendo medidas de absorção, de excitação óptica e de luminescência realizadas no IFSC ao longo dos últimos anos ou provenientes da literatura especializada. Além disso, a simulação pretende elucidar a natureza dos processos fotofísicos em semicondutores orgânicos e testar a validade de teorias analíticas existentes, o que é essencial para a aplicação dessa classe de materiais como dispositivos no futuro. Especial atenção é dada na análise do comportamento temporal da difusão espectral em sistemas homogêneos em que o acoplamento dipolar na transferência de energia é realizado entre uma matriz de segmentos conjugados distribuídas aleatoriamente. A temperatura foi incorporada ao modelo. A comparação dos resultados da simulação com os resultados experimentais permitiu comprovar a validade do modelo proposto, do programa utilizado e entender melhor características de parâmetros não conhecidos em polímeros conjugados, como a influência da forma da distribuição energética dos estados eletrônicos e a distribuição e da temperatura no processo de migração do éxciton. Foi possível reproduzir com sucesso os espectros de luminescência e de absorção em polímeros conjugados descritos na literatura. Além disso, a simulação permitiu explicar resultados relacionados a sistemas poliméricos homogêneos anisotrópicos como polímeros estirados por uma tensão mecânica e materiais não homogêneos híbridos contendo polímero conjugado emissor de luz e nanopartículas. A maior contribuição foi o entendimento do efeito da temperatura nas propriedades de emissão como deslocamento espectral e alargamento homogêneo. Efeitos anômalos, como o deslocamento da emissão com a temperatura e o alcance da difusão com o tempo, foram explicados em termos da termalização do estado excitado e frustração da migração. Por fim, foi possível estudar os processos fotofísicos envolvidos em heteroestruturas orgânicas contendo gradiente energético que permitem o controle da migração direcional do éxciton e suas propriedades de emissão a partir dos processos de transferência de energia tipo Förster (dipolo-dipolo). O controle sobre os processos fotofísicos do polímero luminescente foi realizado através da alteração tanto da orientação como do tamanho de conjugação do material de polimérico. / In the present work, the Monte Carlo method and the direct numerical integration of the Master Equation were employed to simulate the excitation spectral diffusion process in light emitting polymeric systems. The methodology employed a competition among the internal intra-molecular relaxation, the inter-molecular incoherent energy transfer via Förster mechanism and the final process that may be a radiative emission or a non radiative relaxation through a suppression center. This works main objective is to compare the simulation results with the experiments of absorption, optical excitation and luminescence carried out in our group, throughout the last years or from the specialized literature. Moreover, the simulation intends to elucidate the nature of the photophysical processes in organic semiconductors and to test the validity of existing theories, what is essential for the application of this class of materials to devices in the future. Special attention is given to the analysis of the time dependence and the effect of temperature in homogenous systems, where the energy transfer and spectral diffusion were carried out through a matrix of randomly distributed conjugated segments coupled by dipole interaction. The comparison of the simulation results with the experimental ones allowed to prove the validity of the model, the computational program and to better understand characteristic of parameters for conjugated polymers which are still studied. Different energy distributions of electronic states, molecular position and orientation are used in order to simulate molecular configurations obtained by various sample preparation methodologies. With the simulation, it was possible to reproduce with success the experimental luminescence and absorption spectra in polymers conjugated described in literature. Besides, the simulation allowed to explain the exciton migration and properties related to temperature, such as the red shift and broadening of the spectral lines of conjugated polymer emission. The non exponential characteristics of the emissions time resolved intensity curves have been reproduced. The simulation was used to understand effects of temperature on the spectral diffusion as well. Anomalies related to spectral shift emission spectra with temperature and the mean diffusion length with time were explained with the thermalization and frustration of the migration at sufficiently low temperatures and at long relaxation times. Finally, it was possible to study the photophysical processes present in organic heterostructures having energy gradient, as well as the control of the properties of emission via changing the Förster type energy transfer processes between emitting polymers. The control over the photophysical process of the luminescent polymer was accomplished by changing both orientation and mean conjugation length of the polymer material.

Neste trabalho, o método de Monte Carlo é utilizado para simular o processo de difusão espectral da excitação em um sistema polimérico emissor de luz. A metodologia utilizada incorpora a relaxação energética intramolecular, a migração de energia incoerente entre segmentos conjugados e o processo final que pode ser radiativo (luminescência) ou não-radiativo através de centros supressores da excitação (armadilhas ou defeitos). O principal objetivo é comparar os resultados da simulação e de experimentos envolvendo medidas de absorção, de excitação óptica e de luminescência realizadas no IFSC ao longo dos últimos anos ou provenientes da literatura especializada. Além disso, a simulação pretende elucidar a natureza dos processos fotofísicos em semicondutores orgânicos e testar a validade de teorias analíticas existentes, o que é essencial para a aplicação dessa classe de materiais como dispositivos no futuro. Especial atenção é dada na análise do comportamento temporal da luminescência em sistemas em que o acoplamento dipolar na transferência de energia é realizado entre uma matriz de segmentos conjugados e moléculas aceitadoras (impurezas ou defeitos) distribuídas aleatoriamente. A comparação dos resultados da simulação com os resultados experimentais permitiu comprovar a validade do modelo, do programa utilizado e entender melhor características de parâmetros não conhecidos em polímeros conjugados, como a distribuição energética dos estados eletrônicos e a distribuição de centros supressores de luminescência. Foi possível reproduzir com sucesso os espectros de luminescência, de absorção e de excitação seletiva observados experimentalmente em polímeros conjugados descritos na literatura. Além disso, a simulação permitiu explicar resultados relacionados à diminuição da eficiência da luminescência, ao alargamento e ao deslocamento para o azul das linhas espectrais de emissão de polímero conjugado com o aumento da densidade. Foram obtidas as curvas características de eficiência quântica com a variação da energia de excitação e as características não exponenciais das curvas de intensidade de emissão no tempo. Por fim, foi possível estudar os processos fotofísicos envolvidos em heteroestruturas orgânicas com controle a nível molecular das propriedades de emissão a partir dos processos de transferência de energia tipo Förster (dipolo-dipolo) entre polímeros emissores e azocromóforos. As mudanças dos processos fotofísicos do polímero luminescente se fazem pelo controle posicional/orientacional entre camadas doadoras compostas por moléculas do polímero emissor e camadas receptoras à base de azocorante (receptor). / In the present work, the Monte Carlo method is employed to simulate the excitation spectral diffusion process in light emitting polymeric systems. The methodology employed a competition among the internal intra-molecular vibrational relaxation, the inter-molecular incoherent energy transference via Förster mechanism and the final process that may be a radiative emission or a non radiative relaxation through a suppression center. This work main objective is to compare the simulation results with the experiments of absorption, optic excitement and luminescence carried on the IFSC throughout the last years or proceeding from specialized literature. Moreover, the simulation intends to elucidate the nature of the photophysical processes in organic semiconductors and to test the validity of existing theories, what it is essential for the application of this branch of materials as devices in the future. Special attention is given in the analysis of the behavior of the time-resolved luminescence in systems where the energy transfer is carried through a matrix of conjugated segments distributed randomly and acceptor molecules (impurities or defects) coupled by dipole interaction. The comparison of the simulation results with the experimental ones allowed to prove the validity of the model, the used program and to better understand characteristic of parameters for conjugated polymers which are still studied. Different the energy distributions of electronic states, molecular position and orientation are used in order to simulate molecular configurations obtained by different sample preparation methodologies and luminescence suppressor centers. With the simulation, it was possible to reproduce with success the experimental spectra of luminescence, absorption and selective excitation measurements in polymers conjugated described in literature. Besides, the simulation allowed to explain resulted related to the decrease of luminescence efficiency with the increase of the energy of the excitation light, as well as the blue shift and broadening of the spectral lines of conjugated polymer emission with the increase of the density. The characteristic curves of quantum efficiency with the variation of the excitation energy and the not exponential characteristics of the time solved emission intensity curves have been reproduced. Finally, it was possible to study the photophysical processes present in organic heterostructures having molecular level control of the properties of emission via changing the Förster type energy transfer processes between emitting polymers and an azodye. The control photophysical process of the luminescent polymer was accomplished by changing both the orientation and position of the azomolecule in an acceptor layer relative the emitting polymer.

This thesis presents studies of exciton diffusion in organic semiconductors measured using exciton-exciton annihilation and the measurements were performed on materials important for organic solar cells. In the conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), the effect of molecular weight (4-76 kgmol⁻¹) was explored. Using exciton-exciton annihilation measurements, the highest diffusion coefficient was observed in the intermediate molecular weight region and was correlated with long conjugation lengths, higher fraction of aggregated states and more delocalised excitons within the aggregate. The results demonstrated that the molecular weight dependence is due to a complex relationship between intermolecular interactions, aggregate size and Boltzmann statistics. This thesis also includes an investigation of exciton diffusion in diketopyrrolopyrrole(DPP)-based small molecules as a function of molecular structure. Significant changes in photophysical and exciton diffusion properties were observed due to minor changes in molecular structure. Long conjugation lengths, bulky side chains or reduced steric hindrance due to absence of end alkyl chains correlated with reduced film crystallinity and reduced diffusion coefficients. The increase in disorder observed due to large conformational torsions resulted in inhomogeneous broadening of density of states and as a result exciton diffusion becomes dispersive. In this case, a slowdown of exciton diffusion is observed. This study demonstrates that enhanced exciton diffusion can be achieved by designing more rigid and planar conjugated backbones with smaller conjugation lengths. Finally, exciton diffusion measurements were used to rationalise the performance of T3 truxene oligomers as explosive sensors. Side chain lengths were found to have a subtle influence on exciton diffusion. Time-resolved PL quenching measurements were used to estimate the quencher concentration. Differences in quencher concentration were observed suggesting different interaction strengths of the quencher with the truxene oligomer which help explain the explosive sensing performance.

A tese foca dois tópicos principais: a caracterização de filmes de TiO 2para aplicação em células solares sensibilizadas por corantes, DSCs, e a investigação das propriedades fotoquímicas e fotofísicas de complexos polipiridínicos de Re(I). Filmes mesoporosos de TiO2 foram preparados pela rota sol-gel e pelo óxido comercial P25 (Degussa) e foram caracterizados por XRD, SEM, B.E.T e XPS. Ambos os óxidos foram empregados com sucesso nas células solares, mas os filmes do óxido preparado pela rota sol-gel são mais transparentes e adequados para a aplicação em janelas inteligentes. Já as DSCs com o óxido P25 possuem maior eficiência de conversão entre 600 e 800 nm devido ao maior espalhamento de luz nessa região causado pela presença de agregados de nanopartículas no filme mesoporoso. Os substratos condutores foram tratados com soluções de TiCl4 formando uma camada de bloqueio que diminui as reações de recombinação nas DSCs. Isso provoca um aumento da eficiência do dispositivo, de 5,7 para 6,5%. Efeito similar foi observado tratandose a superfície dos filmes de TiO2 com TiCl4, o que resultou num aumento da eficiência de transporte de elétrons nos óxidos obtidos pela rotas sol-gel tanto ácida quanto básica. O TiO2 obtido pela rota básica adsorve menos corante, mas possui melhor eficiência de coleta e separação de cargas. A sobreposição dos filmes nas células solares resulta em eficiências de 5,8%. DSCs com extratos de amora, framboesa ou mirtilo foram investigadas e avaliadas pela composição dos extratos, pelos espectros eletrônicos e de ação. A radiação prolongada da célula solar com extrato de amora, que apresentou a melhor eficiência de conversão, comprovou a estabilidade do dispositivo por no mínimo 36 semanas. Os complexos polipiridínicos de Re(I) fac-[Re(CO)3(Me4phen)(trans-L)]PF6, L = stpy ou bpe, e fac-[Re(CO)3(dppz)(trans-bpe)]PF6 foram sintetizados e caracterizados quanto às suas propriedades espectrais, fotoquímicas e fotofísicas. As variações espectrais sob irradiação em 313, 334, 365 ou 404 nm são atribuídas à isomerização trans-cis do ligante coordenado. Os rendimentos quânticos reais do processo, F, foram determinados por 1H RMN em conjunto com espectrofotometria. Os complexos com trans-bpe possuem Φ independentes do comprimento de onda de irradiação com valores médios de 0,32 para o complexo com Me4phen, e 0,37 para o complexo com dppz. Já o fac- [Re(CO)3(Me4phen)(trans-stpy)]+ apresenta Φ maiores para irradiações entre 313 e 365 nm (0,59), do que em 404 nm (0,31). A dependência do comprimento de onda de irradiação indica que mais de um mecanismo de isomerização está ocorrendo no complexo com transstpy. Os fotoprodutos, cis-complexos, são luminescentes em acetonitrila a 298 K. Os complexos com Me4phen podem ser reconvertidos no isômero trans sob irradiação a 254 nm, com rendimentos quânticos de aproximadamente 0,15. O decaimento da emissão desses complexos foi investigado em diferentes meios e a diferentes temperaturas. O comportamento emissivo foi racionalizado em função da energia relativa dos estados excitados e um mecanismo para desativação foi proposto com a conversão interna do estado 3ILMe4phen para o 3MLCTRe→Me4phen envolvendo uma barreira de energia / The thesis focus on two main topics: characterization of TiO2 films for Dye-sensitized solar cells, DSCs, and investigation on photochemical and photophysical properties of Re(I) polypyridyl complexes. Mesoporous TiO2 films were prepared by sol-gel method and by commercial oxide (P25, Degussa) and were characterized by XRD, SEM, B.E.T. and XPS. Both oxides were successfully employed in solar cells. Sol-gel TiO2 films are more transparent and, therefore, adequate for application on smart windows. On the other hand, DSCs with the P25 oxide have higher conversion efficiency in 600-800 nm region, due to the light scattering caused by nanoparticle aggregates in the mesoporous film. Conductive substrates were treated with TiCl4 solutions to deposit a blocking layer that decreases recombination reactions in DSCs. The treatment enhances the efficiency of the device, from 5.7 to 6.5%. Similar effect was observed by treating the surface of TiO2 films in the same way. The improvement was attributed to the enhancement of the electron transport efficiency in TiO2 films prepared by both, acid or basic sol-gel methods. Dye adsorption on TiO2 obtained by the basic method is lower, however the oxide has higher efficiencies of charge harvesting and charge separation. The use of both films in DSCs, one over the other, results in an efficiency of 5.8%. DSCs with natural extracts of mulberry, raspberry and blueberry were investigated analyzing extract compositions, electronic and action spectra. Long term radiation of DSCs with the mulberry solar cell, which has the highest efficiency, showed the device stability at least for 36 weeks. Re(I) polypyridyl complexes, fac-[Re(CO)3(Me4phen)(trans-L)]PF6, L = stpy or bpe, and fac-[Re(CO)3(dppz)(trans-bpe)]PF6 were synthesized and characterized by their spectral, photochemical and photophysical properties. Spectral changes under 313, 334, 365 or 404 nm irradiation are attributed to the trans-to-cis isomerization of the coordinated ligand. True quantum yields of the process, Φ, were determined by 1H NMR associated to UV-vis spectroscopy. The quantum yields for fac-[Re(CO)3(Me4phen)(trans-bpe)] (Φ = 0.32) and fac- [Re(CO)3(dppz)(trans-bpe)] (F = 0.37) are irradiation wavelength independent. On the other hand, F for fac-[Re(CO)3(Me4phen)(trans-stpy)]+ are higher for 313, 334 and 365 nm irradiation (0.59), than at 404 nm irradiation (0.31). This indicates the occurrence of more than one isomerization pathway in the trans-stpy complex. The photoproducts, cis-complexes, are luminescent in acetonitrile at 298 K. The Me4phen complexes can be back converted to the trans isomers with quantum yields of 0.15 under 254 nm irradiation. The emission decay of these complexes was investigated in different media and at several temperatures. The luminescence behavior was rationalized in terms of the relative energy of excited states. A deactivation pathway is proposed considering the internal conversion of the 3ILMe4phen to the 3MLCTRe→Me4phen excited states with an energy barrier