Improved performances in annealed P3HT-based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC): A detailed morphological and spectroscopic investigation
Optics InfoBase Conference Papers (2011)
Abstract:
We employ femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy on operating hybrid solid-state DSSC with P3HT as the hole transporter, to probe the effect of annealing on charge transfer dynamics and nanoscale morphology. © 2011 OSA.Self-assembly as a design tool for the integration of photonic structures into excitonic solar cells
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 8111 (2011)
Abstract:
One way to successfully enhance light harvesting of excitonic solar cells is the integration of optical elements that increase the photon path length in the light absorbing layer. Device architectures which incorporate structural order in form of one- or three-dimensional refractive index lattices can lead to the localization of light in specific parts of the spectrum, while retaining the cell's transparency in others. Herein, we present two routes for the integration of photonic crystals (PCs) into dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). In both cases, the self-assembly of soft matter plays a key role in the fabrication process of the TiO2 electrode. One approach relies on a combination of colloidal self-assembly and the self-assembly of block copolymers, resulting in a double layer dye-sensitized solar cell with increased light absorption from the 3D PC element. An alternative route is based on the fact that the refractive index of the mesoporous layer can be finely tuned by the interplay between block copolymer self-assembly and hydrolytic TiO 2 sol-gel chemistry. Alternating deposition of high and low refractive index layers enables the integration of a 1D PC into a DSC. © 2011 SPIE.Electrochemical replication of self-assembled block copolymer nanostructures
Chapter in Electrochemical Nanofabrication: Principles and Applications, (2011) 63-116
Facile infiltration of semiconducting polymer into mesoporous electrodes for hybrid solar cells
Energy and Environmental Science 4:8 (2011) 3051-3058
Abstract:
Hybrid composites of semiconducting polymers and metal oxides are promising combinations for solar cells. However, forming a well-controlled nanostructure with bicontinuous interpenetrating networks throughout the photoactive film is difficult to achieve. Pre-structured "mesoporous" metal oxide electrodes can act as a well-defined template for latter polymer infiltration. However, the long range infiltration of polymer chains into contorted porous channels has appeared to elude the scientific community, limiting the advancement of this technology. Here we present a structural and electronic characterisation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) infiltrated into mesoporous dye-sensitized TiO 2. Through a combination of techniques we achieve uniform pore filling of P3HT up to depths of over 4 μm, but the volumetric fraction of the pores filled with polymer is less than 24%. Despite this low pore-filling, exceptionally efficient charge collection is demonstrated, illustrating that pore filling is not the critical issue for mesoporous hybrid solar cells. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Excitonic Materials for Hybrid Solar Cells and Energy Efficient Lighting
AIP Conference Proceedings AIP Publishing 1349:1 (2011) 60-60