Physicochemical properties of graphene nanocomposites for solar cell applications

基于石墨烯纳米复合材料的光致发光材料在未来的可再生能源应用中具有广阔的前景。在这一领域，我们努力建立康考迪亚大学和KWI Kunststoffwerk Industrie Inc.公司之间的合作伙伴关系。(KWI)其建立了一种新的自下而上的方法来生产高结构和化学纯度的纳米石墨烯。根据初步的拉曼光谱和电子显微镜研究，他们的石墨烯显示出两到三位数纳米长度尺度的横向尺寸。基于使用拉曼光谱、电化学、光学光谱和使用同步辐射的掠入射X射线衍射的综合物理化学分析，我们将优化制备方案，以实现KWI制造工艺的更高再现性。然后，我们将形成纳米复合材料的混合材料，采用优化的纳米石墨烯与硅镉硫酸盐有和没有三氧化钨。最后，我们将建立基于这些纳米复合材料的应用相关的异质结构。在那里，我们将采用光引发化学气相沉积功能化石墨烯，并探讨这种功能化对纳米复合材料形成的影响，以评估其光伏应用的前景。我们的项目为HQP、博士后研究助理和研究生研究助理提供了一个有前途的培训环境。他们将从与我们的工业合作伙伴的合作中受益匪浅，这将为他们提供无法仅通过学术培训获得的专业技能。反过来，KWI将受益于基于知识的产品优化，并将由此建立一个可靠的纳米石墨烯制备协议，然后将其商业化用于太阳能电池应用。

Photovoltaics based on nanocomposites involving graphene are promising for future renewable energy applications. In this field, we strive to build a partnership between Concordia University and the company KWI Kunststoffwerk Industrie Inc. (KWI) which established a novel bottom-up method to produce nanographene of high structural and chemical purity. Their graphene shows lateral dimensions on the two- to three-digit nanometer length scale, as deduced from preliminary Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy investigations. Based on comprehensive physicochemical analysis using Raman spectroscopy, electrochemistry, optical spectroscopy and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation we will optimize the preparation protocol to result in even higher reproducibility of the manufacturing process by KWI. We will then form nanocomposite hybrid materials employing the optimized nanographene with silicon cadmium sulphate with and without tungsten trioxide. Finally, we will establish application-relevant heterostructures based on these nanocomposites. There, we will employ photo-initiated chemical vapor deposition to functionalize graphene and explore the impact of this functionalization on the nanocomposite formation to assess its prospect for photovoltaic applications. Our project provides a promising training environment for HQP, a postdoctoral research associate and a graduate student as research assistant. They will highly benefit from the collaboration with our industrial partner which will provide them professional skills which cannot be acquired through academic training alone. In turn, KWI will benefit from a knowledge-based optimization of their product and will therefrom establish a reliable preparation protocol for nanographene to be then commercialized for solar cell applications.