**Meet the editors**

Editor, Prof. Eduardo Jacob-Lopes is currently an associate professor at the Department of Food Technology and Science, Federal University of Santa Maria. He graduated with a master's degree in Food Engineering in Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering from the State University of Campinas, and postdoctoral at the State University

of Campinas. He has more than 15 years of teaching and research experience. He is a technical and scientific consultant of several companies, agencies, and scientific journals. He has 360 publications/communications which include 3 books, 17 book chapters, 60 original research papers, and 280 research communications in international and national conferences and has registered 7 patents. His research interest includes environmental biotechnology with emphasis on microalgal biotechnology.

Co-Editor, Prof. Leila Queiroz Zepka is currently an associate professor at the Department of Food Technology and Science, Federal University of Santa Maria. She graduated with a master's degree in Food Engineering in Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and a doctorate degree in Food Science from the State University of Campinas. She has more than 15 years of teaching and

research experience. She is a technical and scientific consultant of several companies, agencies, and scientific journals. She has 360 publications/communications which include 3 books, 14 book chapters, 50 original research papers, and 200 research communications in international and national conferences, and has registered 4 patents. Her research interest includes microalgal biotechnology with emphasis on biomolecules.

Co-Editor, Prof. Maria Isabel Queiroz is currently a senior professor at the Department of Chemistry and Food, Federal University of Rio Grande. She graduated in oceanography at the Federal University of Rio Grande, with a master's degree in Food Technology in the State University of Campinas and a doctorate degree in Biotechnology from the Federal University of Pelotas. She has more than

30 years of teaching and research experience. She is a technical and scientific consultant in several companies, agencies and scientific journals. She has more than 500 publications/communications which include 7 books, 7 book chapters, 100 original research papers and 350 research communications in international and national conferences. Her research interest includes microalgal biotechnology with emphasis on bioprocesses.

## Contents

#### **Preface XI**


Chapter 7 **Chlorophyll as Photosensitizer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells 105** Abdul Kariem Arof and Teo Li Ping

### Preface

Chlorophylls are fundamental molecules of life as we know in our planet. Chlorophylls are probably the most important of all natural pigments, occurring in plants and microorgan‐ isms. Chlorophylls are responsible for many spectacular shows of colour in nature, and, as a consequence, their distribution has been thoroughly examined. Chlorophylls are also of commercial importance as they have been used for a number of years as colourants and an‐ tioxidants and in the monitoring of agricultural production and ocean primary productivity. In recent years, great advances have been made in understanding the biological functions of chlorophylls. This is especially true for photosynthetic organisms, where the chlorophylls serve one important function, namely, light-harvesting. Chlorophylls are key components of the photosynthetic apparatus and have a vital role in the evolution of photosynthetic organ‐ isms. Chlorophylls are also essential for the structural organisation of the photosynthetic ap‐ paratus. Recent advances in chlorophyll photochemistry have been impressive, and clear roles for chlorophylls in photosynthesis are now evident. Thus, the main aim of this book is to bring together the key aspects of the biology, biochemistry and chemistry of chlorophylls in photosynthetic organisms.

> **Prof. Eduardo Jacob-Lopes** Federal University of Santa Maria Santa Maria, Brazil

> **Prof. Leila Queiroz Zepka** Federal University of Santa Maria Santa Maria, Brazil

> **Prof. Maria Isabel Queiroz** Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
