SUPERGEN Excitonic Solar Cell Consortium - MAIN CORE
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Excitonic Solar Cells (ESCs) are a class of non-conventional solar cells, based on organic and nanostructured materials, in which the charge carriers are generated and simultaneously separated across a heterointerface. They include dye-sensitized nanocrystalline cells, organic cells and hybrid organic-inorganic cells, and in all cases cell fabrication can be achieved using low cost, large area deposition methods on both rigid and flexible substrates. Consequently, ESCs offer genuine medium to long term prospects for reducing the cost of PV below the commercially important threshold of $1 per watt peak. To date work on all types of ESC has been largely restricted to basic studies in academic and national research laboratories, with particular emphasis on improving device understanding and cell efficiency, which are 11% for state of the art dye cells, and much lower for the less well developed organic (4-5%) and hybrid cells (2-3%). However, progress in all types of ESC has undoubtedly been impressive in recent years, with research activity growing rapidly throughout the world. Major improvements in performance have been demonstrated in all cell types with the SUPERGEN Consortium at the forefront of much of this progress. There have also been initial steps to commercialise some ESCs, with the first manufacturing plant to produce dye sensitised cells opening in the UK in 2007. However, much fundamental research still needs to be carried out, in particular on the less well developed organic and hybrid cells, but also on the more mature dye cells where many important challenges must be addressed to enable future successful commercialisation. The UK is in an excellent position to lead this activity in an emerging area of PV technology and renewed SUPERGEN funding will enable the Consortium to remain at the forefront of innovative research, while exploiting its strong connections to a number of relevant commercial organisations.Our proposed Main Core programme builds on the successes of our first SUPERGEN project which benefited strongly from the integration of expertise and knowledge in the two main areas of excitonic solar cells, namely dye sensitised cells and organic cells. We will continue to promote cross-fertilisation of ideas for optimising existing cell types and for innovating new types of cells, with the overall aim of improving the performance of different types of ESC. Training will remain a key priority for the Consortium and the exchange of PDRAs and PhD students between the partner universities will ensure the highest quality multi-disciplinary research environment. The UK has a very strong international position in research into ESCs and the renewal of the SUPERGEN programme will help ensure it remains both competitive and innovative in future years.
Organisations
Publications
Bruno A
(2013)
Determining the Exciton Diffusion Length in a Polyfluorene from Ultrafast Fluorescence Measurements of Polymer/Fullerene Blend Films
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Bansal N
(2013)
Influence of crystallinity and energetics on charge separation in polymer-inorganic nanocomposite films for solar cells.
in Scientific reports
Hou B
(2013)
Initial stages in the formation of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 nanoparticles.
in Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Kirchartz T
(2013)
On the Differences between Dark and Light Ideality Factor in Polymer:Fullerene Solar Cells
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Janssen RA
(2013)
Factors limiting device efficiency in organic photovoltaics.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
New E
(2013)
Small molecule tandem organic photovoltaic cells incorporating an a-NPD optical spacer layer
in Organic Electronics
Cappel UB
(2013)
Charge Generation Dynamics in CdS:P3HT Blends for Hybrid Solar Cells.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Hellmann C
(2013)
Controlling the Interaction of Light with Polymer Semiconductors
in Advanced Materials
Hewat TE
(2014)
Neutral copper(I) dipyrrin complexes and their use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells.
in Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
Vaissier V
(2014)
Effect of Molecular Fluctuations on Hole Diffusion within Dye Monolayers
in Chemistry of Materials