EAGER: Printed Photonic Crystal-Based Tandem Polymer Solar Cell

目前，限制聚合物太阳能电池（PSC）太阳能转换效率的一个主要问题是收集整个太阳光谱的效率低下。这主要是由于两个原因：光吸收不完全和使用的活性高分子材料的小带隙。本提案的目标是通过采用(1)光捕获印刷光子晶体结构和(2)等离子场辅助能量上转换，开发一种能够在宽光谱范围内有效收集太阳能的PSC来解决这些问题。在串联PSC中同时完成光捕获和上转换将是一种变革性的方法。智力优势：本研究首次将光子晶体和等离子体辅助光上转换结构结合在串联PSC中。开发的设备将能够收集广泛的太阳能吸收光谱。在建模的基础上，系统地研究了光子晶体结构与能量转换效率的关系。所提出的印刷技术的成功将为开发等离子体辅助上转换串联PSC开辟新的途径。更广泛的影响：这项提案的主题涉及纳米技术，光学和材料科学，因此，参与这项研究的研究生将接触到最先进的实验室的前沿研究项目。PI希望将提案的主题整合到中佛罗里达大学光学与光子学学院目前提供的研究生课程中。这将有利于发展能源转换领域的劳动力。

Currently, a major issue limiting the solar energy conversion efficiency of polymer solar cells (PSC) is the inefficiency in harvesting the entire solar spectrum. This is mainly due to two reasons: incomplete light absorption and small bandgap of the active polymer materials used. The objective of this proposal is to address these issues by developing a PSC capable of efficiently harvesting solar energy over a wide spectral range by employing (1) light trapping printed photonic crystal architecture, and (2) plasmonic field assisted energy upconversion. Accomplishing light trapping and upconversion simultaneously in a tandem PSC will be a transformative approach. Intellectual Merit: The proposed research is the first example of combining photonic crystal and plasmon assisted light upconverting structures in a tandem PSC. The device developed will be capable of harvesting a broad solar absorption spectrum. A systematic study on the dependence of photonic crystal architecture and the energy conversion efficiency will be performed based on modeling. The success of the proposed printing technology will open up new avenues for developing plasmon assisted upconverting tandem PSC.Broader Impact: The subject of this proposal involves nanotechnology, optics and material science and therefore the graduate students involved in this research will be exposed to cutting edge research projects in the state-of-the-art laboratories. PI desires to integrate the subject of the proposal into the graduate curriculum currently offered in The College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida. This will be beneficial to develop a workforce in the energy conversion realm.