Interfacial Engineering In Functional Materials For Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Offers an Interdisciplinary approach to the engineering of functional materials for efficient solar cell technology Written by a collection of experts in the field of solar cell technology, this book focuses on the engineering of a variety of functional materials for improving photoanode efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The first two chapters describe operation principles of DSSC, charge transfer dynamics, as well as challenges and solutions for improving DSSCs. The remaining chapters focus on interfacial engineering of functional materials at the photoanode surface to create greater output efficiency. Interfacial Engineering in Functional Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells begins by introducing readers to the history, configuration, components, and working principles of DSSC It then goes on to cover both nanoarchitectures and light scattering materials as photoanode. Function of compact (blocking) layer in the photoanode and of TiCl4 post-treatment in the photoanode are examined at next. Next two chapters look at photoanode function of doped semiconductors and binary semiconductor metal oxides. Other chapters consider nanocomposites, namely, plasmonic nanocomposites, carbon nanotube based nanocomposites, graphene based nanocomposites, and graphite carbon nitride based nanocompositesas photoanodes. The book: Provides comprehensive coverage of the fundamentals through the applications of DSSC Encompasses topics on various functional materials for DSSC technology Focuses on the novel design and application of materials in DSSC, to develop more efficient renewable energy sources Is useful for material scientists, engineers, physicists, and chemists interested in functional materials for the design of efficient solar cells Interfacial Engineering in Functional Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells will be of great benefit to graduate students, researchers and engineers, who work in the multi-disciplinary areas of material science, engineering, physics, and chemistry.

Offers an Interdisciplinary approach to the engineering of functional materials for efficient solar cell technology Written by a collection of experts in the field of solar cell technology, this book focuses on the engineering of a variety of functional materials for improving photoanode efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The first two chapters describe operation principles of DSSC, charge transfer dynamics, as well as challenges and solutions for improving DSSCs. The remaining chapters focus on interfacial engineering of functional materials at the photoanode surface to create greater output efficiency. Interfacial Engineering in Functional Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells begins by introducing readers to the history, configuration, components, and working principles of DSSC It then goes on to cover both nanoarchitectures and light scattering materials as photoanode. Function of compact (blocking) layer in the photoanode and of TiCl4 post-treatment in the photoanode are examined at next. Next two chapters look at photoanode function of doped semiconductors and binary semiconductor metal oxides. Other chapters consider nanocomposites, namely, plasmonic nanocomposites, carbon nanotube based nanocomposites, graphene based nanocomposites, and graphite carbon nitride based nanocompositesas photoanodes. The book: Provides comprehensive coverage of the fundamentals through the applications of DSSC Encompasses topics on various functional materials for DSSC technology Focuses on the novel design and application of materials in DSSC, to develop more efficient renewable energy sources Is useful for material scientists, engineers, physicists, and chemists interested in functional materials for the design of efficient solar cells Interfacial Engineering in Functional Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells will be of great benefit to graduate students, researchers and engineers, who work in the multi-disciplinary areas of material science, engineering, physics, and chemistry.

The increasing demand for energy as standards of living and population sizes rise across the globe motivates the development of scalable resources to meet the forecasted doubling of energy consumption. This challenge is further compounded by the need to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with our current level of energy consumption in order to stave off costly changes in the global climate. Solar energy promises renewable, carbon-free energy and a resource that is orders of magnitude larger than alternative sources. Capturing this solar energy with photovoltaic devices has become an increasingly economical means of energy production, but further development is needed to make solar energy conversion inexpensive and ubiquitous. One particular class of photovoltaics--the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)--is especially appealing because it can be constructed with abundant, inexpensive materials and be engineered in a modular fashion for a wide array of product applications. Challenges remain, however, in order to make DSSCs more efficient, more economical, and more practical. The DSSC architecture is quite different than traditional--i.e. silicon and thin film inorganic--photovoltaics in that light harvesting and charge collection are decoupled. This is achieved by depositing a thin nanometer-scale layer of light-absorbing dye molecules atop a high surface area nanostructured TiO2 anode. The consequence of this architecture, however, is an abundance of interfacial area at which deleterious charge recombination processes can occur. Further improvements in DSSC performance therefore require a thorough understanding of and high control over the dual-interface that exists between the dye layer and the electron-conducting anode and the dye layer and the hole-transporting material (HTM). In the first part of this work we describe the application of thin, sub-nanometer insulating metal oxide layers grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) to the TiO2 anode for the purpose of slowing down the undesirable back-recombination of electrons injected into TiO2 by the light-absorbing dye molecules. We use the well-characterized insulator Al2O3 as a recombination barrier material and perform a comprehensive study of different parameters that impact how such barriers change device performance. In a solid-state DSSC we demonstrate the importance of the dye chemical structure and the anode fabrication process in dictating whether or not improvements achieved through the recombination suppression outweigh device current losses that result from the insertion of an insulating layer. We apply these lessons to a new barrier layer material, In2O3, that unlike Al2O3 has not been previously well-characterized but is less-insulating and can be grown at an extremely low growth rate, providing excellent control over the competing consequences of barrier layers. With In2O3 we are able to demonstrate some of the highest ever reported open-circuit voltages for this class of DSSC and we observe an unexpected change in behavior as the In2O3 barriers reach a certain thickness. In our third barrier layer study, we achieve a near-doubling in efficiency when Al2O3 is applied to a quantum dot-sensitized solar cell, a close analogue of the DSSC, wherein recombination more severely limits device performance. In the second part of this work, we combine experimental and computational techniques to study the dye/anode interface and the orientation of dye molecules adsorbed on a TiO2 surface. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy is used to measure the angles of individual bonds and in turn deduce the full geometry of adsorbed dye molecules. This result is compared to computational simulations using density functional theory-molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) of the same dye/TiO2 system. Our results show remarkable correspondence between the experimental and computational approaches and signify important consequences for understanding the dye/anode interface in DSSCs as well as adsorbate/substrate studies more generally.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Mathematical Modelling and Materials Design and Optimization presents the latest information as edited from leaders in the field. It covers advances in DSSC design, fabrication and mathematical modelling and optimization, providing a comprehensive coverage of various DSSC advances that includes different system scales, from electronic to macroscopic level, and a consolidation of the results with fundamentals. The book is extremely useful as a monograph for graduate students and researchers, but is also a comprehensive, general reference on state-of-the-art techniques in modelling, optimization and design of DSSCs.

Green Chemistry for Sustainable Textiles: Modern Design and Approaches provides a comprehensive survey of the latest methods in green chemistry for the reduction of the textile industry’s environmental impact. In recent years industrial R&D has been exploring more sustainable chemicals as well as eco-friendly technologies in the textile wet processing chain, leading to a range of new techniques for sustainable textile manufacture. This book discusses and explores basic principles of green chemistry and their implementation along with other aspects of cleaner production strategies, as well as new and emerging textile technologies, providing a comprehensive reference for readers at all levels.Potential benefits to industry from the techniques covered in this book include: Savings in water, energy and chemical consumption, waste minimization as well as disposal cost reduction, and production of high added value sustainable textile products to satisfy consumer demands for comfort, safety, aesthetic, and multi-functional performance properties. Innovative emerging methods are covered as well as popular current technologies, creating a comprehensive reference that facilitates comparisons between methods Evaluates the fundamental green chemistry principles as drivers for textile sustainability Explains how and why to use renewable green chemicals in the textile wet processing chain

Printable Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells A comprehensive exploration of printable perovskite solar cells and their potential for commercialization In Printable Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells, a team of distinguished researchers delivers an accessible and incisive discussion of the principles, technologies, and fabrication processes associated with the manufacture and use of perovskite solar cells. The authors detail the properties, characterization methods, and technologies for halide perovskite materials and devices and explain printable processing technologies, mesoscopic anode and cathodes, and spacer layers for printable perovskite solar cells. In the book, you’ll find expansive discussions of the stability issues inherent in perovskite solar cells and explore the potential for scaling and commercializing the printing of perovskite solar cells, complete with real-world industry data. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to the background and fundamentals of perovskite solar cells Comprehensive explorations of the characterization methods and technologies used with halide perovskite materials and devices Practical discussions of printable processing technologies for perovskite solar cells Fulsome treatments of the stability issues associated with perovskite solar cells and potential solutions for them Perfect for materials scientists, solid state physicists and chemists, and electronics engineers, Printable Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells will also benefit surface chemists and physicists.

Printable Solar Cells The book brings together the recent advances, new and cutting edge materials from solution process and manufacturing techniques that are the key to making photovoltaic devices more efficient and inexpensive. Printable Solar Cells provides an overall view of the new and highly promising materials and thin film deposition techniques for printable solar cell applications. The book is organized in four parts. Organic and inorganic hybrid materials and solar cell manufacturing techniques are covered in Part I. Part II is devoted to organic materials and processing technologies like spray coating. This part also demonstrates the key features of the interface engineering for the printable organic solar cells. The main focus of Part III is the perovskite solar cells, which is a new and promising family of the photovoltaic applications. Finally, inorganic materials and solution based thin film formation methods using these materials for printable solar cell application is discussed in Part IV. Audience The book will be of interest to a multidisciplinary group of fields, in industry and academia, including physics, chemistry, materials science, biochemical engineering, optoelectronic information, photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical and manufacturing engineering.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Emerging Trends and Advanced Applications is highly focused on addressing all aspects of dye sensitized solar cell technology. In this book, the authors present systematic analysis and working principles and detailed studies of individual components, manufacturing methods, software assisted design surrounding the technology market, commercialization potential, and performance evaluations and detailed fabrication methods and parameters. As there is no specific book which could encircle all the aspects of dye sensitized solar cells from its very basic working principles to advanced approached to improve it efficiency, this book fills that gap. Providing a comprehensive study on dye sensitized solar cells, this reference covers basic working principles to advanced approaches in improving efficiency as well as thermodynamic and kinetic studies. It will be ideal for advanced stage researchers and engineers looking to get a grip on DSSC technology. Provides a compilation of all-important principles and advanced research in the field of dye sensitized solar cells Specifies constituents of each DSSC, from basic to advanced level Details advances in fabrication and software assisted design of DSSC