Block copolymer morphologies in dye-sensitized solar cells: probing the photovoltaic structure-function relation.
We integrate mesostructured titania arrays into dye-sensitized solar cells by replicating ordered, oriented one-dimensional (1D) columnar and three-dimensional (3D) bicontinuous gyroid block copolymer phases. The solar cell performance, charge transport, and recombination are investigated. We observe faster charge transport in 1D "wires" than through 3D gyroid arrays. However, owing to their structural instability, the surface area of the wire arrays is low, inhibiting the solar cell performance. The gyroid morphology, on the other hand, outperforms the current state-of-the-art mesoporous nanoparticle films.
Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 OHE, UK.
Edward J W
EJ
Crossland
Mihaela
M
Nedelcu
Caterina
C
Ducati
Sabine
S
Ludwigs
Marc A
MA
Hillmyer
Ullrich
U
Steiner
Henry J
HJ
Snaith