EAGER: Photoconductivity Characterization of Polymeric Nanocomposites

这项早期探索性研究补助金(EIGER)奖提供资金，以探索将纳米结构颗粒和薄膜用作适用于太阳能应用的聚合物纳米复合材料的关键组件的可行性。纳米复合聚合物的合成将集中在聚合物/纳米颗粒基质中的关键成分上，这些成分可能有助于太阳能电池中功能分子(即发色团)的战略性放置。这项可行性研究将评估纳米复合材料的光转化行为，重点是光导原子力显微镜和块体太阳能电池器件的电学表征，以及对纳米复合材料的形貌和界面区的检查。如果成功，这项研究的数据将为纳米颗粒/导电聚合物薄膜柔性太阳能材料的水基可制造性提供指导，并将指导未来对光伏纳米复合材料基础研究的研究。这一努力将有助于开发一种新的太阳能异质结材料战略，该战略基于定制的纳米颗粒在导电聚合物阵列中的分散，利用水相中的简单自组装。另一个优点是，该材料系统将服从于柔性太阳能材料制造的喷墨打印和卷到卷处理。

This EArly Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award provides funding to explore the feasibility of using nanostructured particles and thin films as key components in a polymeric nanocomposite suitable for solar applications. The synthesis of the nanocomposite polymers will focus on key constituents in the polymer/nanoparticle matrix that have the potential to aid in the strategic placement of the functional molecules, i.e. chromophores, in a solar cell. This feasibility study will evaluate the photo conversion behavior of the nanocomposite, focusing on photoconductive atomic force microscopy and electrical characterization of bulk solar cell devices as well as examination of the topography and interfacial zones of the nanocomposite. If successful, the data from this study will provide guidance for the feasibility of water-based manufacturability of nanoparticle/conductive polymer thin film flexible solar materials, and will guide future research into fundamental studies of photovoltaic nanocomposite materials. The effort will contribute to the development of a new strategy for solar heterojunction materials that is based on the dispersion of customized nanoparticles within conductive polymer arrays using facile self-assembly within aqueous phases. An additional advantage is that the material system would be amenable to inkjet printing and roll-to-roll processing for flexible solar materials manufacturing.