Probing Charge Generation in 3D Photonic Poly(3-hexylthiophene)/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

dc.contributor.advisorChen, Jennifer I-Ling
dc.creatorTulsiram, Nicholas
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-20T17:17:08Z
dc.date.available2016-09-20T17:17:08Z
dc.date.copyright2016-03-28
dc.date.issued2016-09-20
dc.date.updated2016-09-20T17:17:08Z
dc.degree.disciplineChemistry
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractOrganic photovoltaics (OPVs) are attractive for their inexpensiveness, large-scale fabrication methods, flexibility and semi-transparency. OPVs have lower efficiencies than conventional inorganic semiconductor-based solar cells, and hence methods to enhance light-harvesting properties are sought-after. Photonic crystals are unique nanomaterials that present the ability to enhance light-harvesting properties through electromagnetic field localization and slow photon effect. In this work, three-dimensional photonic crystals were successfully integrated into the active layers of bulk-heterojunction solar cells by fabricating a series of titanium dioxide inverse opals coated with poly(3-hexylthiophene). The optical, morphological, and charge generation properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Transient photoinduced absorption spectroscopy showed enhanced charge generation due to a potential photonic enhancement and the increased interfacial area of the porous structure. This research serves as a proof of concept, where the photonic properties of inverse opals and their high surface area may be exploited with different materials in other solar cell systems.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/32288
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectChemistry
dc.subject.keywordsSolar cells
dc.subject.keywordsBulk heterojunction
dc.subject.keywordsPhotonic
dc.subject.keywordsPhotonic crystals
dc.subject.keywordsPhotoinduced absorption spectroscopy
dc.subject.keywordsHybrid solar cells
dc.subject.keywordsAbsorption enhancement
dc.subject.keywordsSlow photons
dc.subject.keywordsBand edge enhancement
dc.subject.keywordsLight harvesting
dc.subject.keywordsPolymer
dc.subject.keywordsInorganic
dc.subject.keywordsP3HT
dc.subject.keywordsTiO2
dc.titleProbing Charge Generation in 3D Photonic Poly(3-hexylthiophene)/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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