Fundamental interactions at anastase surfaces; towards new photovoltaics and biosensors

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor WR Flavell
Physics and Astronomy
University of Manchester

Standard

EPSRC

01 April 2003

30 September 2006

42 months

£204,997

Materials sciences

North West

Sensors -- Physical Sciences

Professor WR Flavell, Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester

Dr AG Thomas, Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester

Project Contact, University of St Andrews
Project Contact, University of Worcester
Project Contact, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland

This application centres on the study of adsorption on, and interfacing to, Ti02 in problems of technological importance in understanding the behaviour of new functionalised biomaterials, solid state photovoltaic cells and biosensors. The work exploits synchrotron-based techniques, primarily NEXAFS and resonant photoemission, complemented by STM and XPS in house at MIST to study:1. the adsorption geometries of biologically relevant organic molecules, such as amino acids and tripeptides, nitrogen-containing ring structures, such as pyridine and pyrroles, and sensitising dyes. The latter are of importance in the development of novel dye-sensitised solid state ('DSSS') photovoltaic cells and biosensors;2. the effects on surface electronic structure of bonding to these molecules, in particular band bending effects relevant to the operation of photovoltaic cells and biosensors;3. the electronic structure of the pn junctions formed by interfacing a p-type layer with Ti02,whichare at the heart of prototype DSSS cells; 4. the effect on this of adsorption of a sensitising dye (or model molecule). Overall, the work is aimed at developing an understanding of bonding and electronic structure at the DSSS cell junction or biosensor surface, with a view to optimising their performance. The programme will include both model studies of single crystal Ti02 anatase and rutile surfaces, and studies of thin film nanocrystalline Ti02, which better reflect the electrode materialsused in DS solar cells and new functional biomaterials. We aim to study the adsorption of biologically important organic probe molecules, dyesensitisers, and p-type inorganic compounds such as Cul on these surfaces

01/01/07