Charge transport & recombination in non-classical solar photovoltaic cells: integrating theory & experiment

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr AB Walker
Physics
University of Bath

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2003

30 September 2006

36 months

£207,700

Materials sciences

South West

Photonic Materials -- Physical Sciences

Dr AB Walker, Physics, University of Bath

Professor LM Peter, Chemistry, University of Bath

We use the term 'non-classical solar cells' for devices that use novel materials and design strategies. Ideally, they should be fabricated on lightweight and flexible plastic substrates using robust processing technologies. Two main candidates fall in this category at present: dye-sensitised nanocrystalline solar cells (DSSCs) and polymer blend photovoltaic cells. The challenges for the development of these alternatives range from control of materials and fabrication through to the methodology of process and cell optimisation. Progress towards these objectives requires close integration of theory and experiment. Our proposal is based on common features between DSSCs and polymer blend photovoltaic cells, which suggests a series of experiments and associated modelling. The research will build on our experience with the construction and characterisation of DSSCs and their modelling by a novel multiscale Monte Carlo approach. New ingredients are different designs of dye-sensitized cells, where we will look at cells made in Lausanne and the Netherlands, and characterisation and modelling of polymer blend cells to be provided by CDT

01/01/07