A new recognition concept using dye sensitized solar cell configurationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis, characterization, fabrication of DSSC and metal ion titration. See DOI: 10.1039/c0cc03066j

A bifunctional compound 1 was designed and synthesized, in which the donor-π-conjugated-acceptor-cyanoacrylic acid configuration is suited for DSSC, while the tetraoxa-azacrown (donor) part also acts as the recognition unit for e.g. Ca 2+ and the output of DSSC is utilized as signal transduction, demonstrating a new recognition concept using DSSC. A D-π-A compound 1 suited for DSSC was strategically designed and synthesized, in which the tetraoxa-azacrown (donor) part also acts as the recognition unit for e.g. Ca 2+ and the output of DSSC is utilized as signal transduction, demonstrating a new recognition concept using DSSC.