Enhanced solar energy harvesting in dye sensitized solar cells using nanophosphors and nano-structured optics (CONVERTED)

Over the last 20 years, photovoltaic solar cells (PV) for power generation have spawned an industry that focuses on continuously improving materials to use the solar energy that is available more efficiently. With efficiencies approaching 12%, huge effort has been focused onto improving efficiency by using multi-layer materials, profiled surfaces, thin film technologies etc due to the huge positive impact they have on the carbon economy. On a recently completed TSB programme, CONVERT (TSB ref. AE100D), two of the partners of the present consortium (the Wolfson Centre at Brunel University and Intrinsiq Materials Ltd) developed long-life down-converting phosphors that, once proven by scaling up in demonstrators, will be used worldwide in coatings and on cells to transfer more of the sun's energy into preferred PV frequencies. In this project we will scale up DSSCs to show the effect of augmenting the natural energy available and hence enhance energy output. In addition, we will harvest the light from a third of G24i's current cell's surface that is wasted and redirect the light to the active regions of the cell, thereby aiming to achieve performance gains of ca. 25%.

The availability of low cost, more efficient, longer-lasting dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that the CONVERTED project will produce opens the possibility of widespread use in different marketplaces. Thus, a large number of users will benefit from the project. G24i, IML and Exxelis will benefit commercially from the research & development as the new products penetrate the market. In addition, G24i, IML and Exxelis will expand their businesses, thus creating more jobs and added wealth for the UK. More efficient, flexible DSSCs will become available in the marketplace so users/customers in the UK, Europe, America and Asia will benefit from the new technology. Other companies that want to harness solar energy to power equipment will also benefit from the availability of lightweight, low cost, more efficient DSSCs that offer the potential of long-life performance. Private individuals buying DSSCs will benefit both from more efficient performance of the cells and their enhanced lifetimes. The availability of lower cost, reliable, efficient, longer-lasting DSSCs may well Proposal original proforma document
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influence government policy over subsidising the acquisition of DSSCs as the availability of a lower cost, cleaner and greener power source will decrease the UK's carbon footprint. This will contribute to the government's commitment to lower carbon emissions through its renewables obligation policy. Finally, these lightweight DSSCs offer the potential of being supplementary power sources for moving platforms on land and in the sea and air. The onset for realisation of these benefits can be expected to be within five years of starting the programme, as G24i are already producing a current generation of DSSCs. All of the academic staff working on the CONVERTED programme will benefit from working with industry by appreciating the applications and potentials of their research. The industrial partners will benefit from working with academia by gaining a more fundamental appreciation of their technology.