Efficient photovoltaic materials

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor I Samuel
Physics and Astronomy
University of St Andrews

Standard

EPSRC

01 May 2004

30 April 2006

24 months

£121,870

Materials processing

Scotland

Information & Communication Technology

Professor I Samuel, Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews

This project aims to develop improved photovoltaic materials. Instead of using materials optimised for electroluminescence, it will focus on conjugated polymers prepared by precursor routes. This approach gives denser films which therefore have stronger absorption and better charge transporting properties. We will use a combination the expertise of the applicants in polymer synthesis, materials characterisation, photophysical and device studies to develop an understanding of materials and device operation which will guide the development of improved materials. Promising materials will be studied in a range of device structures including nanocomposite devices consisting of the polymer impregnated into porous titanium dioxide. This is analogous to the well-known Gratzel cell, but with the crucial advantage of being an all solid state device. The use of non-conjugated precursor polymers is expected to make impregnation of the titanium dioxide more effective than for conventional soluble conjugated polymers. Finally, as triplets can diffuse much further than singlets, we will explore whether phosphorescent polymers can give improved photovoltaic performance

01/01/07