Objective
To design devices to harness light energy and convert it to electrical energy requires a full understanding of photo-induced electron transfer. We propose to investigate electron injection from transition metal complexes and other sensitizers into a nanocrystalline semiconductor film following photo excitation. The charge transfer process can be monitored using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. There are two pathways for electron transfer with very different time constants, involving the singlet and triplet states of the sensitizer, respectively. The pathways will be investigated using two experimental set-ups, with a) 10 fs and b) 100 fs resolution. By examining the ratio of the two pathways under variable experimental conditions we aim to gain information on the transfer mechanism determining factors that will improve the efficiency of light harvesting. Once the electron is transferred to the TiO2 film we aim to examine the time resolved dynamics of the electron transport through the film using a 100 fs pump pulse and a THz (far IR) probe pulse. This will aid in the design of new materials to enhance the efficiency of transport. There are many aspects that are currently unknown about this topic, and we hope to shed some light on them, determining factors such as the mechanism of transport, where the electrons are located in the film, whether the intensity of light and counter ions in the surrounding electrolyte solution effect the mobility of charges. This should give further criteria so as to design far more efficient light harvesting systems. Working with Prof. Sundstrom would present a number of opportunities and benefits for me.
(i) working with ultrafast fs lasers,
(ii) experience in liquid and solid state dynamics,
(iii) exploring the photochemistry of large molecular systems,
(iv) acquiring knowledge of new theoretical techniques to interpret and model data,
(v) working in such a large group with a wide range of interests and exposure to other scientists viewpoints and techniques should help to enhance my areas of knowledge. My integration and usefulness to this group should be enhanced by
(i) four years experience of working with lasers in both time and frequency resolved experiments [3 yrs PhD, 1 year degree project]
(ii) Adapting my experience of investigating electronic and nuclear motion in intramolecular processes in small molecules to be aplicable in larger industrially or biologically important systems (iii) programming and data handling skills developed from understanding and modeling wave packet dynamics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistryphotochemistry
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopyabsorption spectroscopy
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivity
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
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