Fabrication and photovoltaic characterization of bio-sensitized solar cells using myoglobin-based sensitizers.
Myoglobin (Mb), reconstituted zinc protoporphyrin-apomyoglobin (ZnMb), and eosin-modified ZnMb (EoZnMb) were used as photosensitizers to functionalize TiO2 nanocrystalline films for bio-sensitized solar-cell (BSSC) applications. For the Mb-sensitized SC, the poor cell performance was due to a reduction Fe(III) --> Fe(II) that produces a photocurrent density of the device smaller than its unsensitized counterpart. The efficiencies of power conversion of both ZnMb and EoZnMb-sensitized SC were enhanced about ten times due to superior charge separation between TiO2 and the protein, and due to smaller current leakage between TiO2 and the electrolyte. The cell performances of the BSSC devices are discussed in terms of an equivalent-circuit model.
Chang
Chih-Wei
CW
Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan.
Chang
Chin-Hao
CH
Lu
Hsueh-Pei
HP
Wu
Tung-Kung
TK
Diau
Eric Wei-Guang
EW
D000818:Animals; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS) / Q000737:chemistry; D006736:Horses; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
D001059:Apoproteins; D009211:Myoglobin; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C010857:apomyoglobin; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D015032:Zinc; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS)