title: Diatom frustules as light traps enhance DSSC efficiency.
abstract: Diatoms are one of the most successful photosynthetic organisms and given the important role that their shells (frustules) play in light trapping we explored their use in multilayered materials for application as photoanodes in dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). We find a substantial improvement in energy conversion efficiency of 30%, increasing from 3.5% to 4.6% with diatom incorporation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Strategic Nano-fabrication, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University Of Western Australia, Crawley, WA-6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeremiah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toster
authors.forename: K Swaminathan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Wanchun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosei
authors.forename: Leone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spiccia
authors.forename: Colin L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Raston
mesh_terms: D060105:Animal Shells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D008027:Light; D012993:Solar Energy
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents