Enhanced solar light harvesting and charge transport in dye-sensitized solar cells
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells are moderately efficient with verified solar-to-electrical power conversion efficiencies of over 12% reported. However, even in the state-of-the-art systems only a fraction of the incident sun light is absorbed, implying substantial scope for improvement. Here we develop both state-of-the-art liquid electrolyte based DSCs and contemporary solid-state hybrid DSCs with the target being to considerably enhance the light capture and adsorption in these devices and also significantly improve the charge transport characteristics. Routes to both improve the photonic structure of the solar cells, create improved semiconducting oxide electrodes for enhanced charge transport and collection and develop and optimise new sensitizers for these systems shall be undertaken.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Henry Snaith (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Abate A
(2013)
Protic ionic liquids as p-dopant for organic hole transporting materials and their application in high efficiency hybrid solar cells.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Abate A
(2014)
An Organic "Donor-Free" Dye with Enhanced Open-Circuit Voltage in Solid-State Sensitized Solar Cells
in Advanced Energy Materials
Abrusci A
(2011)
Influence of Ion Induced Local Coulomb Field and Polarity on Charge Generation and Efficiency in Poly(3-Hexylthiophene)-Based Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
in Advanced Functional Materials
Abrusci A
(2011)
Facile infiltration of semiconducting polymer into mesoporous electrodes for hybrid solar cells
in Energy & Environmental Science
Agrawal Saurabh
(2013)
First principle approach to study role of ionic additives in the solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells
in ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Ball J
(2012)
A panchromatic anthracene-fused porphyrin sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells
in RSC Advances
Braukyla T
(2016)
Synthesis and Investigation of the V-shaped Tröger's Base Derivatives as Hole-transporting Materials.
in Chemistry, an Asian journal
Brown M
(2011)
Surface Energy Relay Between Cosensitized Molecules in Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Cannavale A
(2015)
Perovskite photovoltachromic cells for building integration
in Energy & Environmental Science
Cheng C
(2014)
Polystyrene templated porous titania wells for quantum dot heterojunction solar cells.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
| Description | Discovered organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites could work exceptionally well in photovolatics. |
| Exploitation Route | Triggered a massive research activity in perovskite solar cells worldwide. This is both at research institutions and industry. the direct outputs of this project have been transferred to Oxford PV and enabled them to rise to the forefront of PV development. Assuming successful delivery to a product, this technology has the potential to transform the PV industry, and subsequently the power industry. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment |
| Description | Through the collaboration from this Japanese/UK award the original know how on processing perovskite materials was transferred from japan to UK. The potential transformative impact of perovskites was not realised by the Japanese collaborators, but through work in Oxford a stream of discoveries enabled the realisation of efficient perovskite solar cells which has lead to the growth of Oxford PV ltd to become a world force in emerging PV. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Oxford PV |
| Organisation | Oxford Photovoltaics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have made cells and materials and supplied them to Oxford PV for characterisation and/or further material deposition. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Oxford PV have supplied some Silicon PV cells upon which to coat the perovskite cells for the all perovskite tandem cells. They have also deposited ITO conducting oxide upon our cells to complete our devices. In addition they have allowed access to other characterisation facilities including optical microscope and x-ray diffraction analysis. |
| Impact | One of the main outcomes is that Oxford PV has raised in the region of £30M external investment, with the technology based on technology originally conceived in Oxford University. The company has benefited from continuing fundamental advancements of the technology, driven from our university lab. we are now working closely together on this project and will collaboratively deliver record efficiency solar cells. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Various Radio Interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio Interviews for BBC world service and news reports |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=henry+snaith |