TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - IMAGING AND COMMUNICATION - Preferred Components: The sensitizing dye comprises at least one further ligand to the metal atom, where the ligand is (2,2')bipyridinyl compound of formula (XX). The sensitizing dye has structure of formula (M(AL)(DL)(SL)y) (XXV).R5, R6 = substituents of formula (-(CH2=CH2)r-(A1)t-R10);r = 0-2;t = 0-3;A1 = 4-18C aromatic moiety, which, besides R10 (further substituted and which comprises heteroatoms);R10 = H or 1-18C hydrocarbon, which may comprise heteroatoms;M = metal comprising ruthenium, osmium, platinum, iron or copper;AL = anchoring ligand compounds (I);DL = donor ligand compound (XX);y = 1-2; andSL = spectator ligand, which, with y being 2, are two monodentate anionic ligands and, with z being 1, is a bidentate monoanionic ligand.Provided that if A1 is a 4C aromatic moiety, it comprises one or more heteroatoms.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The photoelectric conversion device comprises a photoelectrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte or charge transporting material in between the photoelectrode and counter electrode, where the dye is absorbed on the surface of the photoelectrode, on the side facing the counter electrode. SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - The use of 4,4'-di(carboxyvinyl)-2,2'-bipyridine compound of formula (Ia) and 4,4'-dicarboxy(phenylethenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine is disclosed as (I).    EXAMPLE - 4,4'-Dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (11.054 g) and methyl 4-formylbenzoate (29.549 g) were dispersed in acetic anhydride (16 ml) and then dry potassium acetate (5.889 g) and iodine (50 mg) were added. The resulting mixture was heated under reflux for 48 hours. After cooling, methanol (200 ml) was added and the resulting fine off-white crystals were filtered off. The solid was stirred for 5 minutes with boiling methoxyethanol (400 ml), the mixture was allowed to cool, the crystalline product was filtered off and dried to give pure styryl ester (19.449 g) and worked up to give 4,4'-dicarboxy(phenylethenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine.