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Photovoltaic Properties (photovoltaic + property)
Selected AbstractsHigh-Yield Synthesis and Electrochemical and Photovoltaic Properties of Indene-C70 BisadductADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2010Youjun He Abstract [6, 6]-Phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) is the widely used acceptor material in polymer solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, the low LUMO energy level and weak absorption in visible region are its two weak points. For enhancing the solar light harvest, the soluble C70 derivative PC70BM has been used as acceptor instead of PC60BM in high efficiency PSCs in recent years. But, the LUMO level of PC70BM is the same as that of PC60BM, which is too low for the PSCs based on the polymer donors with higher HOMO level, such as poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Here, a new soluble C70 derivative, indene-C70 bisadduct (IC70BA), is synthesized with high yield of 58% by a one-pot reaction of indene and C70 at 180 °C for 72 h. The electrochemical properties and electronic energy levels of the fullerene derivatives are measured by cyclic voltammetry. The LUMO energy level of IC70BA is 0.19 eV higher than that of PC70BM. The PSC based on P3HT with IC70BA as acceptor shows a higher Voc of 0.84 V and higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.64%, while the PSC based on P3HT/PC60BM and P3HT/PC70BM displays Voc of 0.59 V and 0.58 V, and PCE of 3.55% and 3.96%, respectively, under the illumination of AM1.5G, 100 mW cm,2. The results indicate that IC70BA is an excellent acceptor for the P3HT-based PSCs and could be a promising new acceptor instead of PC70BM for the high performance PSCs based on narrow bandgap conjugated polymer donor. [source] Effect of Carbon Chain Length in the Substituent of PCBM-like Molecules on Their Photovoltaic PropertiesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2010Guangjin Zhao Abstract A series of [6,6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)-like fullerene derivatives with the butyl chain in PCBM changing from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, respectively (F1,F5), are designed and synthesized to investigate the relationship between photovoltaic properties and the molecular structure of fullerene derivative acceptors. F2 with a butyl chain is PCBM itself for comparison. Electrochemical, optical, electron mobility, morphology, and photovoltaic properties of the molecules are characterized, and the effect of the alkyl chain length on their properties is investigated. Although there is little difference in the absorption spectra and LUMO energy levels of F1,F5, an interesting effect of the alkyl chain length on the photovoltaic properties is observed. For the polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on P3HT as donor and F1,F5, respectively, as acceptors, the photovoltaic behavior of the P3HT/F1 and P3HT/F4 systems are similar to or a little better than that of the P3HT/PCBM device with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) above 3.5%, while the performances of P3HT/F3 and P3HT/F5-based solar cells are poorer, with PCE values below 3.0%. The phenomenon is explained by the effect of the alkyl chain length on the absorption spectra, fluorescence quenching degree, electron mobility, and morphology of the P3HT/F1,F5 (1:1, w/w) blend films. [source] Effect of Alkyl Side-Chain Length on Photovoltaic Properties of Poly(3-alkylthiophene)/PCBM Bulk HeterojunctionsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 20 2009Abay Gadisa Abstract The morphological, bipolar charge-carrier transport, and photovoltaic characteristics of poly(3-alkylthiophene) (P3AT):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blends are studied as a function of alkyl side-chain length m, where m equals the number of alkyl carbon atoms. The P3ATs studied are poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT, m,=,4), poly(3-pentylthiophene) (P3PT, m,=,5), and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT, m,=,6). Solar cells with these blends deliver similar order of photo-current yield (exceeding 10,mA cm,2) irrespective of side-chain length. Power conversion efficiencies of 3.2, 4.3, and 4.6% are within reach using solar cells with active layers of P3BT:PCBM (1:0.8), P3PT:PCBM (1:1), and P3HT:PCBM (1:1), respectively. A difference in fill factor values is found to be the main source of efficiency difference. Morphological studies reveal an increase in the degree of phase separation with increasing alkyl chain length. Moreover, while P3PT:PCBM and P3HT:PCBM films have similar hole mobility, measured by hole-only diodes, the hole mobility in P3BT:PCBM lowers by nearly a factor of four. Bipolar measurements made by field-effect transistor showed a decrease in the hole mobility and an increase in the electron mobility with increasing alkyl chain length. Balanced charge transport is only achieved in the P3HT:PCBM blend. This, together with better processing properties, explains the superior properties of P3HT as a solar cell material. P3PT is proved to be a potentially competitive material. The optoelectronic and charge transport properties observed in the different P3AT:PCBM bulk heterojunction (BHJ) blends provide useful information for understanding the physics of BHJ films and the working principles of the corresponding solar cells. [source] New Low Bandgap Dithienylbenzothiadiazole Vinylene Based Copolymers: Synthesis and Photovoltaic PropertiesMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 4 2010Bo Liu Abstract Two new low-bandgap block copolymers derived from dithienylbenzothiadiazole (DTBT) and different electron-rich functional groups (dioctoxyl benzene and N -octyl-diphenylamine), poly(1,4-dioctoxyl-2,5-divinylbenzene- co -4,7-dithiophene-2,-yl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) (PPV-DTBT), poly(3,8-divinyl- N -octyl-diphenylamine- co -4,7-dithiophene-2,-yl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) (PDPAV-DTBT), were synthesized by Heck cross-coupling polymerization. PPV-DTBT and PDPAV-DTBT are easily soluble in common organic solvents such as o -dichlorobenzene and chloroform. DSC and TGA results indicate that these copolymers possess good thermal stabilities. PPV-DTBT and PDPAV-DTBT films exhibit broad absorption bands at 300,765,nm (with an optical bandgap of 1.62,eV) and 300,733,nm (with an optical bandgap of 1.69,eV), respectively. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of PPV-DTBT were estimated by cyclic voltammetry to be ,5.43 and ,3.74,eV, respectively, and the HOMO and LUMO of PDPAV-DTBT were ,5.37 and ,3.7,eV, respectively. Preliminary photovoltaic cells based on the composite structure of ITO/PEDOT: PSS/PPV-DTBT:PCBM (1: 2, w/w)/Al showed an open-circuit voltage of 0.75,V, a power conversion efficiency of 0.6%, and a short circuit current of 1.7,mA,·,cm,2. [source] Novel Zinc Porphyrin Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Synthesis and Spectral, Electrochemical, and Photovoltaic PropertiesCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Cheng-Wei Lee Abstract Novel meso - or ,-derivatized porphyrins with a carboxyl group have been designed and synthesized for use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The position and nature of a bridge connecting the porphyrin ring and carboxylic acid group show significant influences on the spectral, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of these sensitizers. Absorption spectra of porphyrins with a phenylethynyl bridge show that both Soret and Q,bands are red-shifted with respect to those of porphyrin 6. This phenomenon is more pronounced for porphyrins 3 and 4, which have a ,-conjugated electron-donating group at the meso position opposite the anchoring group. Upon introduction of an ethynylene group at the meso position, the potential at the first oxidation alters only slightly whereas that for the first reduction is significantly shifted to the positive, thus indicating a decreased HOMO,LUMO gap. Quantum-chemical (DFT) results support the spectroelectrochemical data for a delocalization of charge between the porphyrin ring and the amino group in the first oxidative state of diarylamino-substituted porphyrin 5, which exhibits the best photovoltaic performance among all the porphyrins under investigation. From a comparison of the cell performance based on the same TiO2 films, the devices made of porphyrin 5 coadsorbed with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on TiO2 in ratios [5]/[CDCA]=1:1 and 1:2 have efficiencies of power conversion similar to that of an N3 -based DSSC, which makes this green dye a promising candidate for colorful DSSC applications. [source] Synthesis of star-shaped molecules with pyrene-containing ,-conjugated units linked by an organosilicon coreAPPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2010Joji Ohshita Abstract Star-shaped molecules with pyrene-containing ,-conjugated units linked by an organosilicon core (Py3Si and Py3C) were prepared and their applications to thin-film transistors (TFTs) and photovoltaic cells were studied. Bottom-contact type TFTs with spin-coated films of the star-shaped compounds as the active layers were prepared and the field-effect mobility (µFET) and Ion/Ioff ratios were determined to be approximately 10,5 cm2 V,1 s,1 and 104, respectively. Photovoltaic properties of Py3Si and Py3C were studied in the cells, ITO,PEDOT-PSS,Py3Si or Py3C-PCBM,LiF,Al. Although the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the cells was only about 0.04%, they showed high open circuit voltages (Voc) of 0.8,0.9 V, indicating the high potential of this type of compound as a host material. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Photostimulated changes of properties of CdTe filmsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2007T. D. Dzhafarov Abstract The effect of illumination during the close-spaced sublimation (CSS) growth on composition, structural, electrical, optical and photovoltaic properties of CdTe films and CdTe/CdS solar cells were investigated. Data on comparative study by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), absorption spectra and conductivity-temperature measurements of CdTe films prepared by CSS method in dark (CSSD) and under illumination (CSSI) were presented. It is shown that the growth rate and the grain size of CdTe films grown under illumination is higher (by factor about of 1.5 and 3 respectively) than those for films prepared without illumination. The energy band gap of CdTe films fabricated by both technology, determined from absorption spectra, is same (about of 1.50 eV), however conductivity of the CdTe films produced by CSSI is considerably greater (by factor of 107) than that of films prepared by CSSD. The photovoltaic parameters of pCdTe/nCdS solar cells fabricated by photostimulated CSSI technology (Jsc = 28 mA/cm2, Voc =0.63 V) are considerably larger than those for cells prepared by CSSD method (Jsc = 22 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.52 V). A mechanism of photostimulated changes of properties of CdTe films and improvement of photovoltaic parameters of CdTe/CdS solar cells is suggested. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Effect of Carbon Chain Length in the Substituent of PCBM-like Molecules on Their Photovoltaic PropertiesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2010Guangjin Zhao Abstract A series of [6,6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)-like fullerene derivatives with the butyl chain in PCBM changing from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, respectively (F1,F5), are designed and synthesized to investigate the relationship between photovoltaic properties and the molecular structure of fullerene derivative acceptors. F2 with a butyl chain is PCBM itself for comparison. Electrochemical, optical, electron mobility, morphology, and photovoltaic properties of the molecules are characterized, and the effect of the alkyl chain length on their properties is investigated. Although there is little difference in the absorption spectra and LUMO energy levels of F1,F5, an interesting effect of the alkyl chain length on the photovoltaic properties is observed. For the polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on P3HT as donor and F1,F5, respectively, as acceptors, the photovoltaic behavior of the P3HT/F1 and P3HT/F4 systems are similar to or a little better than that of the P3HT/PCBM device with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) above 3.5%, while the performances of P3HT/F3 and P3HT/F5-based solar cells are poorer, with PCE values below 3.0%. The phenomenon is explained by the effect of the alkyl chain length on the absorption spectra, fluorescence quenching degree, electron mobility, and morphology of the P3HT/F1,F5 (1:1, w/w) blend films. [source] Nanorod-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Improved Charge Collection Efficiency,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 1 2008H. Kang Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) comprising chemically synthesized nanorods and nanoparticles are investigated. In identical circumstances, except for the charge-collection efficiency, nanorod-based DSSCs show improved photovoltaic properties (6.2 % versus 4.3 % for NP-based DSSCs) owing to the characteristics of slightly enhanced electron transport and predominantly degraded charge recombination, compared with nanoparticle-based DSSC. [source] Regioregular poly(3-alkanoylthiophene): Synthesis and electrochemical, photophysical, charge transport, and photovoltaic propertiesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 21 2010Chao Wang Abstract Head-to-tail regioregular poly(3-heptanoylthiophene) (PHOT) was synthesized by Ni-catalyzed polycondensation of the 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol-protected Grignard monomer followed by deprotection. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) study demonstrates that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of PHOT are 0.5 eV lower in energy than those of the head-to-tail poly(3-hexylthiophene) (HT-P3HT). Their optical band gaps are essentially the same. Incomplete photoluminescence (PL) quenching was observed in thin films of the 1:1 blend of PHOT and HT-P3HT. PHOT displayed a glass transition at ,269 °C and decomposed at ,300 °C according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) study showed that PHOT exists in a not highly ordered state in solid films especially in the ,-stacking direction. Only p -channel activity was observed in field-effect transistors (FETs) for PHOT. The hole mobility was on the order of 10,4 cm2 V,1 s,1. Photovoltaic devices with an active layer of 1:1 blend of PHOT and PC71BM had a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ,0.5%. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010 [source] Synthesis and applications of low-bandgap conjugated polymers containing phenothiazine donor and various benzodiazole acceptors for polymer solar cellsJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 21 2010Harihara Padhy Abstract A series of soluble donor-acceptor conjugated polymers comprising of phenothiazine donor and various benzodiazole acceptors (i.e., benzothiadiazole, benzoselenodiazole, and benzoxadiazole) sandwiched between hexyl-thiophene linkers were designed, synthesized, and used for the fabrication of polymer solar cells (PSC). The effects of the benzodiazole acceptors on the thermal, optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of these low-bandgap (LBG) polymers were investigated. These LBG polymers possessed large molecular weight (Mn) in the range of 3.85,5.13 × 104 with high thermal decomposition temperatures, which demonstrated broad absorption in the region of 300,750 nm with optical bandgaps of 1.80,1.93 eV. Both the HOMO energy level (,5.38 to ,5.47 eV) and LUMO energy level (,3.47 to ,3.60 eV) of the LBG polymers were within the desirable range of ideal energy level. Under 100 mW/cm2 of AM 1.5 white-light illumination, bulk heterojunction PSC devices containing an active layer of electron donor polymers mixed with electron acceptor [6,6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) or [6,6]-phenyl-C71 -butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) in different weight ratios were investigated. The best performance of the PSC device was obtained by using polymer PP6DHTBT as an electron donor and PC71BM as an acceptor in the weight ratio of 1:4, and a power conversion efficiency value of 1.20%, an open-circuit voltage (Voc) value of 0.75 V, a short-circuit current (Jsc) value of 4.60 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (FF) value of 35.0% were achieved. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010 [source] Low bandgap ,-conjugated copolymers based on fused thiophenes and benzothiadiazole: Synthesis and structure-property relationship studyJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 20 2009Shiming Zhang Abstract A series of low bandgap conjugated polymers consisting of benzothiadiazole alternating with dithienothiophene (DTT) or dithienopyrrole (DTP) unit with or without 3-alkylthiophene bridge have been synthesized. Effect of the fused rings and 3-alkylthiophene bridge on the thermal, optical, electrochemical, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties of these polymers have been investigated. These polymers show broad absorption extending from 300 to 1000 nm with optical bandgaps as low as 1.2 eV; the details of which can be varied either by incorporating 3-alkylthiophene bridge or by replacing DTT with DTP. The LUMO levels (,2.9 to ,3.3 eV) are essentially unaffected by the specific choice of donor moiety, whereas the HOMO levels (,4.6 to ,5.6 eV) are more sensitive to the choice of donor. The DTT and DTP polymers with 3-alkylthiophene bridge were found to exhibit hole mobilities of 8 × 10,5 and 3 × 10,2 cm2 V,1 s,1, respectively, in top-contact organic field-effect transistors. Power conversion efficiencies in the range 0.17,0.43% were obtained under simulated AM 1.5, 100 mW cm,2 irradiation for polymer solar cells using the DTT and DTP-based polymers with 3-alkylthiophene bridge as donor and fullerene derivatives as acceptor. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5498,5508, 2009 [source] Novel two-dimensional donor,acceptor conjugated polymers containing quinoxaline units: Synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic propertiesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 12 2008Lijun Huo Abstract Novel two-dimensional donor,acceptor (D,A) structured conjugated polymers, P1,P4, were designed and synthesized by introducing electron-deficient quinoxaline as core and electron-rich alkoxyl-phenylenevinylene in side chains and p -phenylenevinylene, triphenylamine, or thiophene in main chain. Benefited from the D,A structures, the polymers possess low bandgaps of 1.75 eV, 1.86 eV, 1.59 eV, and 1.58 eV for P1, P2, P3, and P4, respectively, and show broad absorption band in the visible region: the shorter wavelength absorption peak at ,400 nm ascribed to the conjugated side chains and the longer wavelength absorption peak between 500 nm and 750 nm belonging to the absorption of the conjugated main chains. Especially, the absorption band of P4 film covers the whole visible range from 300 nm to 784 nm. The power conversion efficiencies of the polymer solar cells based on P1,P4 as donor and PCBM as acceptor are 0.029%, 0.14%, 0.46%, and 0.57%, respectively, under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm2. The polymers with the low bandgap and broad absorption band are promising photovoltaic materials. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4038,4049, 2008 [source] Synthesis, light emission, and photovoltaic properties of perylene-containing polyacetylenesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 6 2008Jianli Hua Abstract Perylene (Py)-containing polyacetylenes with different skeleton structures [HCC(C6H4)CO2Py]n (P1), [HCC(CH2)8CO2Py]n (P2), and {[(C6H5) CC(CH2)9NH2]co[(C6H5)CC(CH2)9Py]}n (P3) are synthesized in satisfactory yields by Rh-catalyzed polymerization (for P1 and P2) and polymer reaction (for P3). All the polymers are soluble and possess high molecular weights (Mw up to 2.8 × 105). Their structures and properties are characterized and evaluated by IR, NMR, UV, TGA, PL, and photovoltaic (PV) analyses. The polymers are thermally stable, losing little of their weights when heated to 330 °C. When their solutions are irradiated, their perylene pendants emit intense red fluorescence at 610 nm. PV cells with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/LiF/Al are fabricated, which show maximum current density of 10.3 ,A/cm2. The external quantum efficiency is sensitive to the polymer structure, with P3 exhibiting the highest value of 0.23%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2025,2037, 2008 [source] Combined effects of conjugation pattern and alkoxy side chains on the photovoltaic properties of thiophene-containing PPE-PPVsJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 9 2007Daniel Ayuk Mbi Egbe Abstract This contribution presents the synthesis and properties of four thiophene-containing poly(- p -arylene-ethynylene)/poly(- p -arylene-vinylene)s, PIa-b and PIIa-b, whose repeating units (RU) consist either of 1:2 or 2:2 triple bond/double bond ratio, and which bear linear alkoxy side chains not longer than octyloxy and branched 2-ethylhexyloxy. PIa-b and PIIa-b exhibit similar absorption and emission behaviour in dilute solution (,a = 483,486 nm, ,e = 540 nm) as well as in solid state (,a = 500, 530 nm, ,e = 560 nm), whereby slightly higher fluorescence quantum yields (,f) were obtained for PI than for PII systems, as a result of higher number of thiophene units within the RU of PII. An enhancement of the ,f -value from 0% to 3% is obtained after replacing linear octadecyloxy in PIIc-e by bulky branched 2-ethylhexyloxy in PIIa-b. Nonoptimized solar cells of configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer: PCBM (1:3 weight ratio)/LiF/Al show open circuit voltages as high as 900 mV for PIa-b and 800 mV for PIIa-b. Reducing the size of the side chain from R = 2- ethylhexyl in PIa to R = methyl in PIb leads to a significant increase of the short circuit current, ISC, from ca. 2.5 mA to ca. 3.7 mA and consequently to an enhancement of the energy conversion efficiency, ,AM1.5, from ca. 1.2% to ca. 1.7%. This is due to an extended donor-acceptor interfacial area, as evidenced by AFM topology pictures showing smaller nanoscale clusters size in PIb than in PIa active layer. The same change led to minimal effect in PII systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1619,1631, 2007 [source] Effect of side-chain end groups on the optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of side-chain conjugated polythiophenesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 16 2006Erjun Zhou Abstract Three new side-chain conjugated polythiophene derivatives, poly{3-[2-(3-methoxy-4-octyloxy-phenyl)-vinyl]-thiophene} (P3MOPVT), poly{3-[2-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-octyloxy-phenyl)-vinyl]-thiophene} (P3DMOPVT), and poly{3-[2-(3,4-dioctyloxy-phenyl)-vinyl]-thiophene} (P3DOPVT), were synthesized by Wittig-Hornor reaction and GRIM method and compared with poly{3-[2-(4-octyloxy-phenyl)-vinyl]-thiophene} (P3OPVT) for investigating the effect of the end groups of the conjugated side-chain on the properties of the polymers. Owing to the electron-donating ability of methoxy groups, the visible absorption peaks of P3MOPVT and P3DMOPVT solutions and films become stronger and red-shifted compared with P3OPVT. The electrochemical bandgaps of the four polymers are 2.15 eV for P3OPVT, 1.99 eV for P3MOPVT, 1.85 eV for P3DMOPVT, and 2.36 eV for P3DOPVT, respectively, which indicate that the electron-donating ability of the methoxy end group on the conjugated side chain of P3MOPVT and P3DMOPVT and the large steric hindrance of the two octyloxy end groups on the conjugated side chain of P3DOPVT have obvious influence on the electrochemical properties of the side-chain conjugated polythiophenes. Polymer solar cells were fabricated with a structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Polymer:PCBM/LiF/Al. The best device, based on P3DMOPVT, shows a power conversion efficiency of 1.63% under the illumination of AM1.5, 80 mW/cm2. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4916,4922, 2006 [source] CuIn2n+1Se3n+2 single dot structures: creation and photosensitivityPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 5 2009Yu. V. Rud Abstract Photosensitive single dot structures based on CuIn2n+1Se3n+2 (n = 0, 1, 2) bulk single crystals have been creation for the first time by means of electric-discharge welding (EDW). The stationary current-voltage characteristics and the photovoltaic properties of the structures based on CuInSe2, CuIn3Se5 and CuIn5Se8 ternary semiconductors have been studied, which show evidence for the rectification effect and photoconversion. The character of interband transitions is established and the energy bandgap variation in this type of ternary compounds is traced. It is concluded that EDW can be successfully used for the creation of photoconverters based on multi-component semiconductors. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Effect of 1,1,-dibenzyl-4,4,-bipyridyl dichloride (DBD) on charge-conduction process and photovoltaic response of a polypyrrole (PPy) thin-film devicePOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002S Roy Abstract The present communication deals with analysing the effect of 1,1,-dibenzyl-4,4,-bipyridyl dichloride (DBD) substitution at the N -position of 2,5-polypyrrole (PPy), on electrical, impedance and photovoltaic properties. The thin-film device was fabricated by sandwiching DBD-substituted PPy between indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminium (Al) electrodes. The formation of a Schottky barrier with Al and ohmic contact with ITO are explained in terms of p-type semiconducting behaviour of DBD-substituted PPy. In the low-voltage region, Ohm's law is followed, while in the high-voltage region, a space-charge-limited conduction (SCLC) controlled by the exponential-trap distribution was observed. DBD substitution causes shifting of the Fermi level towards the valence-band edge and an increase in charge-carrier mobility. A remarkable change in dark electrical conductivity of the order of five has been observed in DBD-substituted PPy. The electrical and impedance measurements of an ITO/PPy:DBD/Al device confirms the formation of a Schottky barrier at the DBD-substituted PPy/Al interface. Additionally, it can be modelled by a simple equivalent circuit of two resistance,capacitance (RC) elements in series representing the bulk and a junction-region. At low frequency, the device capacitance follows a pronounced voltage dependence. From a detailed analysis of the J,V and C,V characteristics, the ionized acceptor concentration (Na), width of depletion layer (W) and potential barrier height (,b) have been evaluated. We observed a significant enhancement in photocurrent on DBD substitution. The increase in photocurrent is explained by the efficient charge separation induced by the intermolecular transfer of photo-excited electrons from PPy to DBD. The substitution also causes a reduction in the trapping centres in the material. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Novel Zinc Porphyrin Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Synthesis and Spectral, Electrochemical, and Photovoltaic PropertiesCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Cheng-Wei Lee Abstract Novel meso - or ,-derivatized porphyrins with a carboxyl group have been designed and synthesized for use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The position and nature of a bridge connecting the porphyrin ring and carboxylic acid group show significant influences on the spectral, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of these sensitizers. Absorption spectra of porphyrins with a phenylethynyl bridge show that both Soret and Q,bands are red-shifted with respect to those of porphyrin 6. This phenomenon is more pronounced for porphyrins 3 and 4, which have a ,-conjugated electron-donating group at the meso position opposite the anchoring group. Upon introduction of an ethynylene group at the meso position, the potential at the first oxidation alters only slightly whereas that for the first reduction is significantly shifted to the positive, thus indicating a decreased HOMO,LUMO gap. Quantum-chemical (DFT) results support the spectroelectrochemical data for a delocalization of charge between the porphyrin ring and the amino group in the first oxidative state of diarylamino-substituted porphyrin 5, which exhibits the best photovoltaic performance among all the porphyrins under investigation. From a comparison of the cell performance based on the same TiO2 films, the devices made of porphyrin 5 coadsorbed with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on TiO2 in ratios [5]/[CDCA]=1:1 and 1:2 have efficiencies of power conversion similar to that of an N3 -based DSSC, which makes this green dye a promising candidate for colorful DSSC applications. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||