A Study on the Photocatalytic Dimerization of Rose Bengal and Allylthiourea

Fluorimetric and absorption spectroscopic studies were performed to elucidate the photocurrent decay with time in the conversion process of solar energy into electrical energy using a photoelectrochemical cell containing rose bengal as a sensitizer, and allylthiourea as a supersensitizer. Spectra of dye solution before and after irradiation revealed a new photocatalytic dimerization reaction between sensitizer and supersensitizer. It was also found that the geometrical arrangement of the transition dipoles is oblique in the dimer of dye molecules.