Prof Henry Snaith FRS

Abstract:

We have applied a MgO and a ZrO2 shell deposition method to control the interface between two indolenebased organic dyes in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. The shell deposition was carried out at less than 100 °C, and shell thickness was shown to be 2 nm for the ZrO2 and 6-10 nm for the MgO by transmission electron microscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has shown the initial ZnO NWs and core-shell structures have little surface water contamination. The use of suitable dyes, D102 and D149, has led to power conversion efficiency for ZnO NW based hybrid solar cells of 0.71%. Transient absorption measurements indicate that enhancements in photoinduced charge generation with core-shell formation are the main factor leading to the improved device efficiency. © 2009 American Chemical Society.

Abstract:

We use the optical transfer-matrix method to quantify the spatial distribution of light in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), employing material optical properties measured experimentally in the accompanying article (Part I) as input into the optical model. By comparing the optical modeling results with experimental photovoltaic action spectra for solid-state DSCs containing either a ruthenium-based dye or an organic indoline-based dye, we show that the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the devices for both dyes is around 60% for almost all wavelengths, substantially lower than the almost 100% IQE measured for liquid DSCs, indicating substantial electrical losses in solid-state DSCs that can account for much of the current factor-of-two difference between the efficiencies of liquid and solid-state DSCs. The model calculations also demonstrate significant optical losses due to absorption by 2, 2′,7, 7′ -tetrakis-(N,N -di- p -methoxyphenyl- amine)-9, 9′ -spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) and TiO2 in the blue and to a lesser extent throughout the visible. As a consequence, the more absorptive organic dye, D149, should outperform the standard ruthenium complex sensitizer, Z907, for all device thicknesses, underlining the potential benefits of high extinction coefficient dyes optimized for solid-state DSC operation. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

Abstract:

The efficiency of a photovoltaic device is limited by the portion of solar energy that can be captured. We discuss how to measure the optical properties of the various layers in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (SDSC). We use spectroscopic ellipsometry to determine the complex refractive index of each of the various layers in a SDSC. Each of the ellipsometry fits is used to calculate a transmission spectrum that is compared to a measured transmission spectrum. The complexities of pore filling on the fitting of the ellipsometric data are discussed. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy is shown to be an effective method for determining pore filling in SDSC layers. Accurate effective medium optical constants for each layer are presented and the material limits under which these optical constants can be used are discussed. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

Abstract:

We report the first successful application of an ordered bicontinuous gyroid semiconducting network in a hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cell. The freestanding gyroid network is fabricated by electrochemical deposition into the 10 nm wide voided channels of a self-assembled, selectively degradable block copolymer film. The highly ordered pore structure is ideal for uniform infiltration of an organic hole transporting material, and solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells only 400 nm thick exhibit up to 1.7% power conversion efficiency. This patterning technique can be readily extended to other promising heterojunction systems and is a major step toward realizing the full potential of self-assembly in the next generation of device technologies. © 2009 American Chemical Society.