Modification and application of graphene quantum dots generated from CO2

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Climate change due to excessive CO2 emissions represents an important global issue. Carbon UpcyclingTechnologies Inc. was founded with a vision of changing the narrative on CO2 and other greenhouse gasemissions from a problem to a solution. To this end, it has been dedicated to developing innovative newtechnologies to turn waste gases to high-value products, which are then explored for various applications. Inparticular, it has recently developed a new process to synthesize graphene quantum dots from CO2, for which ithas the urgent need to evaluate, explore and improve their performance in solar cells, because graphenequantum dots are believed to be able to enhance photon absorption of solar cells via the so-calledup-conversion and/or down-conversion effects. One of the problems it encounters is how to tailor thesegraphene quantum dots in an appropriate way and conduct quantum dot-involved solar cell device fabricationefficiently, so as to gain the highest possible performance enhancement. Capitalizing on the strong expertise ofMa's group on solar cells and nanomaterials, the main goals of this project are to explore the use ofCO2-generated graphene quantum dots, after deliberate surface modification, in organic solar cells to achieve ahigh enhancement of power conversion efficiency by optimizing materials and device fabrication. Meanwhile,we intend to unravel the relationship between graphene quantum dot structure, surface chemistry and deviceperformance, which can provide guides for further development of graphene quantum dot applications in solarcells and other optoelectronics.