READ ME This text describes the data presented in the paper: ======================== Introductory information ======================== Files included in the data deposit (include a short description of what data are contained): 1)1_2_kinetics.xlsx Kinetics traces of 1 and 2 adsorbed on nickel oxide films, in the presence and absence of iodide/triiodide electrolyte, taken from time-resolved infrared spectra. The traces show the decay of bands in the nitrile region for 1 and thiophene region for 2. This data is presented in figure 5d of the paper. 2)1_2_kinetics_esi.xlsx Kinetics traces of 1 and 2 adsorbed on nickel oxide films, in the presence and absence of iodide/triiodide electrolyte, taken from time-resolved infrared spectra. The traces show the decay of bands in the phenyl region for 1 and bodipy region for 2. This data is presented in figure S11 of the paper. 3)1_TRIR_spectra.xlsx Time-resolved infrared spectra of 1 in dichloromethane, deuerated acetonitrile and adsorbed on nickel oxide film in the presence and absence of iodide/triiodide electrolyte. This data is presented in figure 5a and 5c of the paper. 4)2_NiO_IR.xlsx Ground state infrared spectra of nickel oxide films with and without 1 adsorbed on the surface. 5)2_TRIR_spectra.xlsx Time-resolved infrared spectra of 2 in dichloromethane, deuerated acetonitrile and adsorbed on nickel oxide film in the presence and absence of iodide/triiodide electrolyte. This data is presented in figure 5b, S5, S6 and S7 of the paper. 6)Bodipy-Specechem.xlsx Spectroelectrochemical data of a bodipy derivative, showing the change in infrared absorption as a negative potential is applied. This data is presented in figure S8A of the paper. 7)Ground_state_IR.xlsx Ground state infrared spectra of thiophene, triphenylamine, precursor molecule, 1, 2 and a bodipy derivative. This data is presented in figure S2 of the paper. 8)Precursor_specechem.xlsx Spectroelectrochemical data of a 1/2 precursor compound, showing the change in infrared absorption as a negative potential is applied. This data is presented in figure S8B of the paper. Explain the relationship between multiple data sets, if required: Key words used to describe the data: Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, nickel oxide, p-type semiconductor, spectroelectrochemistry, infrared. ========================== Methodological information ========================== A brief method description – what the data is, how and why it was collected or created, and how it was processed: Instruments, hardware and software used: Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy experiments were measured using laser flash photolysis and a pump-probe technique on the instruments at the Central Laser Facility, Dicot. The raw data was then processed in Origin 9.0. Kinetic traces were fit to single or multi exponentials using Origin 9.0. Lifetimes are given as amplitude weighted averages. Infrared spectra were measured at Newcastle University on a Varian Scimitar 800 FT-IR. Spectroelectrochemical experiments were run at Newcastle University in an Ottle cell. Date(s) of data collection: Time-resolved infrared experiments were run between the 13th and 16th January 2015. Spectroelectrochemical experiments were run between the 22nd and 23rd January 2017. Infrared spectra were collected between the 16th and 17th January 2017. Geographic coverage of data: Data validation (how was the data checked, proofed and cleaned): Processed transient absorption data was checked by experts at the Central Laser Facility, Didcot. Overview of secondary data, if used: ========================= Data-specific information ========================= Definitions of names, labels, acronyms or specialist terminology uses for variables, records and their values: 1 and 2 refer to dyes whose structures are given in the paper. Explanation of weighting and grossing variables: Outline any missing data: ======= Contact ======= Please contact rdm@ncl.ac.uk for further information