Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes

Brian E. Hardin; Eric T. Hoke; Paul B. Armstrong; Jun Ho Yum; Pascal Comte; Tomás Torres; Jean Frechet; Md Khaja Nazeeruddin; Michael Grätzel; Michael D. McGehee

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.96

Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes

Brian E. Hardin, Eric T. Hoke, Paul B. Armstrong, Jun Ho Yum, Pascal Comte, Tomás Torres, Jean Frechet, Md Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael Grätzel, Michael D. McGehee

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

427 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conventional dye-sensitized solar cells have excellent charge collection efficiencies, high open-circuit voltages and good fill factors. However, dye-sensitized solar cells do not completely absorb all of the photons from the visible and near-infrared domain and consequently have lower short-circuit photocurrent densities than inorganic photovoltaic devices. Here, we present a new design where high-energy photons are absorbed by highly photoluminescent chromophores unattached to the titania and undergo Förster resonant energy transfer to the sensitizing dye. This novel architecture allows for broader spectral absorption, an increase in dye loading, and relaxes the design requirements for the sensitizing dye. We demonstrate a 26% increase in power conversion efficiency when using an energy relay dye (PTCDI) with an organic sensitizing dye (TT1). We estimate the average excitation transfer efficiency in this system to be at least 47%. This system offers a viable pathway to develop more efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	406-411
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature Photonics
Volume	3
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.96
State	Published - Jul 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: The authors thank Y.C. Jun and M.L. Brongersma for access to time–resolved PL measurement equipment and assistance with measurements. B.E.H. would like to thank P. Péchy for his assistance in making the electrolyte. This work was supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics and by the Office of Naval Research contract no. N00014-08-1-1163. B.E.H. received financial support from the National Department of Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG). E.T.H. is supported by the National Science Foundation GRFP and the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. J.M.F. is supported by DOEBES contract DE-AC02-05CH11231. Financial support from ESF (SOHYDs), EU (ROBUST DSC, FP7-Energy-2007-1-RTD, 212792), MCyT (CTQ2008-00418/BQU, Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2007-00010), MICINN (FOTOMOL, PSE-120000-2008-3) and CAM (MADRISOLAR, S-0505/PPQ/0225) are also gratefully acknowledged.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/nphoton.2009.96

Cite this

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title = "Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes",

abstract = "Conventional dye-sensitized solar cells have excellent charge collection efficiencies, high open-circuit voltages and good fill factors. However, dye-sensitized solar cells do not completely absorb all of the photons from the visible and near-infrared domain and consequently have lower short-circuit photocurrent densities than inorganic photovoltaic devices. Here, we present a new design where high-energy photons are absorbed by highly photoluminescent chromophores unattached to the titania and undergo F{\"o}rster resonant energy transfer to the sensitizing dye. This novel architecture allows for broader spectral absorption, an increase in dye loading, and relaxes the design requirements for the sensitizing dye. We demonstrate a 26% increase in power conversion efficiency when using an energy relay dye (PTCDI) with an organic sensitizing dye (TT1). We estimate the average excitation transfer efficiency in this system to be at least 47%. This system offers a viable pathway to develop more efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.",

author = "Hardin, {Brian E.} and Hoke, {Eric T.} and Armstrong, {Paul B.} and Yum, {Jun Ho} and Pascal Comte and Tom{\'a}s Torres and Jean Frechet and Nazeeruddin, {Md Khaja} and Michael Gr{\"a}tzel and McGehee, {Michael D.}",

note = "KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: The authors thank Y.C. Jun and M.L. Brongersma for access to time–resolved PL measurement equipment and assistance with measurements. B.E.H. would like to thank P. P{\'e}chy for his assistance in making the electrolyte. This work was supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics and by the Office of Naval Research contract no. N00014-08-1-1163. B.E.H. received financial support from the National Department of Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG). E.T.H. is supported by the National Science Foundation GRFP and the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. J.M.F. is supported by DOEBES contract DE-AC02-05CH11231. Financial support from ESF (SOHYDs), EU (ROBUST DSC, FP7-Energy-2007-1-RTD, 212792), MCyT (CTQ2008-00418/BQU, Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2007-00010), MICINN (FOTOMOL, PSE-120000-2008-3) and CAM (MADRISOLAR, S-0505/PPQ/0225) are also gratefully acknowledged. This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.",

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AU - Hardin, Brian E.

AU - Hoke, Eric T.

AU - Armstrong, Paul B.

AU - Yum, Jun Ho

AU - Comte, Pascal

AU - Torres, Tomás

AU - Frechet, Jean

AU - Nazeeruddin, Md Khaja

AU - Grätzel, Michael

AU - McGehee, Michael D.

N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: The authors thank Y.C. Jun and M.L. Brongersma for access to time–resolved PL measurement equipment and assistance with measurements. B.E.H. would like to thank P. Péchy for his assistance in making the electrolyte. This work was supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics and by the Office of Naval Research contract no. N00014-08-1-1163. B.E.H. received financial support from the National Department of Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG). E.T.H. is supported by the National Science Foundation GRFP and the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. J.M.F. is supported by DOEBES contract DE-AC02-05CH11231. Financial support from ESF (SOHYDs), EU (ROBUST DSC, FP7-Energy-2007-1-RTD, 212792), MCyT (CTQ2008-00418/BQU, Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2007-00010), MICINN (FOTOMOL, PSE-120000-2008-3) and CAM (MADRISOLAR, S-0505/PPQ/0225) are also gratefully acknowledged. This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

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N2 - Conventional dye-sensitized solar cells have excellent charge collection efficiencies, high open-circuit voltages and good fill factors. However, dye-sensitized solar cells do not completely absorb all of the photons from the visible and near-infrared domain and consequently have lower short-circuit photocurrent densities than inorganic photovoltaic devices. Here, we present a new design where high-energy photons are absorbed by highly photoluminescent chromophores unattached to the titania and undergo Förster resonant energy transfer to the sensitizing dye. This novel architecture allows for broader spectral absorption, an increase in dye loading, and relaxes the design requirements for the sensitizing dye. We demonstrate a 26% increase in power conversion efficiency when using an energy relay dye (PTCDI) with an organic sensitizing dye (TT1). We estimate the average excitation transfer efficiency in this system to be at least 47%. This system offers a viable pathway to develop more efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

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Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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