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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/F056397/1
Title High-efficiency Block Copolymer Solar Cells: A Scaleable Prototype for Low Cost Energy Generation
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 34%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 66%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor ML Turner
No email address given
Chemistry
University of Manchester
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 May 2008
End Date 30 April 2011
Duration 36 months
Total Grant Value £496,776
Industrial Sectors Electronics
Region North West
Programme Nanoscience to Engineering
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor ML Turner , Chemistry, University of Manchester (99.998%)
  Other Investigator Professor SG Yeates , Chemistry, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Dr B Saunders , Materials, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Web Site
Objectives Note : grants EP/F056397/1, EP/F056303/1, EP/F056370/1 and EP/F056389/1 are all linked
Abstract Widespread implementation of photovoltaic electricity to meet changing energy demands requires a step-change in the cost of photovoltaic power. This proposal assembles a consortium of chemists, physicists and materials scientists from Imperial College London and the universities of Manchester, Sheffield and Durham to produce new prototype polymer solar cells that have high power conversion efficiencies and could be mass produced cost effectively. We propose new polymer solar cell designs thatintegrate flexibility with inexpensive materials and solution based processing. In one approach, block copolymers are used to direct formation of nanostructured thin films to provide high efficiency polymer solar cells. In a second approach, block copolymers will be used to direct crystallisation within nanostructured films. Independent optimisation of the optical and electronic properties, together with theoretical modelling input, will provide design rules for maximising power conversion efficiency. The project will establish strategies for scaling up the device designs which have the highest efficiencies. Our objective is to construct affordable and scalable polymer solar cells that havean energy conversion efficiency of at least 7%
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Added to Database 14/04/08