High-efficiency Förster resonance energy transfer in solid-state dye sensitized solar cells.
Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (SS-DSCs) offer the potential to make low cost solar power a reality, however their photoconversion efficiency must first be increased. The dyes used are commonly narrow band with high absorption coefficients, while conventional photovoltaic operation requires proper band edge alignment significantly limiting the dyes and charge transporting materials that can be used in combination. We demonstrate a significant enhancement in the light harvesting and photocurrent generation of SS-DSCs due to Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). TiO(2) nanotube array films are sensitized with red/near IR absorbing SQ-1 acceptor dye, subsequently intercalated with Spiro-OMeTAD blended with a visible light absorbing DCM-pyran donor dye. The calculated Förster radius is 6.1 nm. The donor molecules contribute a FRET-based maximum IPCE of 25% with a corresponding excitation transfer efficiency of approximately 67.5%.
Mor
Gopal K
GK
Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA.
Basham
James
J
Paulose
Maggie
M
Kim
Sanghoon
S
Varghese
Oomman K
OK
Vaish
Amit
A
Yoriya
Sorachon
S
Grimes
Craig A
CA