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.
Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan.
Chih-Wei
CW
Chang
Chin-Hao
CH
Chang
Hsueh-Pei
HP
Lu
Tung-Kung
TK
Wu
Eric Wei-Guang
EW
Diau
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)