Gas Phase Processing for Low Cost Dye Solar Cells

本项目由电气、通信和网络系统部（ECCS）的能源、电力和自适应系统（EPAS）项目和材料研究部（DMR）的电子和光子材料（EPAS）项目共同资助。研究目标和方法：这项研究的目的是利用化学蒸气-基于原子和分子层沉积方法，用于开发高效、成本有效的有机太阳能电池，特别关注染料太阳能电池。该方法是多学科的，并使用相结合的实验建模方法。学术成就：该研究解决了与纳米多孔无机光电极表面上超薄金属氧化物和有机染料的沉积和表征相关的基本问题，沿着气相合成的有机-无机异质界面处的电荷传输的表征和分析。主要研究任务包括：1.利用超薄原子层沉积金属氧化物奈米结构异质界面之工程电子性质，2。发展一种使用脉冲分子层沉积法的有机染料负载过程，3.开发高通量DSC工艺，以及4.更广泛的影响：拟议的研究预计将导致新的方法，提高光伏异质界面的电子质量和加载有机光吸收剂到纳米结构的无机光电极和染料太阳能电池的加工和成本效益打开新的范例。与拟议研究相关的主题将被纳入PI的“光化学基础”和“高级光化学”课程。这项研究将使女生和代表性不足群体的学生参与拟议的研究任务。为期一天的夏令营将启动，以提高布鲁金斯高中学生对绿色能源科学和技术的认识。

This project is jointly funded by the Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems (EPAS) Program in the Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) and the Electronic and Photonic Materials (EPM) Program in the Division of Materials Research (DMR).Research Objectives and Approaches: The objective of this research is to use chemical vapor-based atomic and molecular layer deposition methods for the development of highly efficient cost effective organic solar cells with a particular focus on dye solar cells. The approach is multidisciplinary and uses a combined experimental-modeling approach. Intellectual Merit:The research addresses the fundamental issues associated with the deposition and characterization of ultra-thin metal oxides and organic dyes on the surface of nanoporous inorganic photoelectrodes along with the characterization and analysis of charge transport at the gas phase synthesized organic-inorganic heterointerfaces. The major research tasks include: 1. Engineering electronic properties of nanostructured heterointerfaces using ultra-thin atomic layer deposited metal oxides, 2. Developing an organic dye loading process using a pulsed molecular layer deposition method, 3. Developing a high throughput DSC process, and 4. Understanding the charge transport and origin of efficiency enhancement in interface engineered DSCs.Broader impacts: The proposed research is expected to lead to new methodologies for enhancing electronic quality of photovoltaic heterointerfaces and loading organic light absorbers onto nanostructured inorganic photoelectrodes and open new paradigms in processing and cost-effectiveness of dye solar cells. Topics related to the proposed research will be integrated into the PI's "Fundamentals of Photovoltaics" and "Advanced photovoltaics" courses. This research will involve female students and students from underrepresented groups in the proposed research tasks. A one day long summer camp will be initiated to raise the awareness of Brookings high school students to the science and technology of green energy.