Utilization of conducting polymers as sensitizers in solid-state photocells

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2006
Authors
Pathirathne, T.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Peradeniya
Abstract
Substituted thiophene sensitized, nanocrystalline TiO₂-based quasi solid- state solar cells were fabricated by using either poly (3-thiophene acetic acid) (P3TAA) or a copolymer with poly (3-thiophene acetic acid)-poly(hexylthiophene) (P3TAA-PHT) and their performances were examined. The photocells were able to generate reasonably high photocurrents in the presence of hole transporting material Cul for the first time in polymer sensitized sold-state photovoltaic devices. Dramatic enhancement in the cell performances were observed with the addition of an ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluromethylsulfonyl) amide (EMImTf₂N) and LiTf₂N to the Cul solution as additives for charge transport promotion. The cell sensitized with P3TAA generated a short circuit photocurrent of ~1.4 mAcm⁻² with an open-circuit voltage of ~330 mV and a total power conversion efficiency of ~0.25% under the irradiance of 1000 Wm” (1.5 Air Mass). In the case of co- polymer P3TAA-PHT delivered ~0.28% efficiency under the same conditions with ~1.45 mAcm⁻² as photocurrent and ~325 mV as photovoltage. The corresponding incident photon to current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) of the above cells were ~37 % and ~31 %, respectively
Description
Keywords
Chemical Sciences
Citation
Collections