Obiettivo
Heterojunction hybrid solar cells, consisting of an organic electron donor and an inorganic oxide semiconductor electron acceptor, have attracted much attention in the past decade. In this type of solar cell, photons are absorbed in the p-type semiconductor polymeric layer, and the generated excitons (holes and electrons) are separately transported within different nanophases, resulting in considerably large charge carrier lifetimes. An effective approach to building the heterojunction is to infiltrate the organic polymer into an oxide nanotube array (NTA) framework, which has several key advantages: (a) vertically aligned NTA affords pathway for vectorial electron transfer; (b) light propagation can be optimized by controlling the pore diameter, wall thickness, and nanotube length; (c) the NTA offers high surface area while maintaining structural order; (d) carrier collection is optimized by the proximity of exciton diffusion distances (5-15 nm) to the oxide nanotube diameter.
Efficient infiltration from solution of a high molecular weight polymer into the NTA host can be challenging. In situ approaches are more attractive, either chemical or UV polymerization has been deployed to synthesize polythiophene derivatives in the oxide host. Intrinsic electroactivity of a monomer precursor molecule can also be exploited to electrochemically infiltrate the polymer in situ into the NTA. We presented the feasibility of this approach by using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and TiO2 NTA recently.
The aim of this work is that by combining our knowledge on inorganic NTAs and conducting polymers, we can exploit the advantages of electrochemistry in order to achieve the fine tuning of the composition and morphology of the composites. By optimizing all key processes (light absorption, exciton generation, charge transport) we will prepare hybrids possessing improved photo-electrochemical properties. The best performing materials will be utilized to fabricate solar cell devices.
Campo scientifico
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistry
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcomposites
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivity
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Argomento(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF
Vedi altri progetti per questo bando
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)Coordinatore
6720 Szeged
Ungheria