title: Multiple exciton generation in quantum dots versus singlet fission in molecular chromophores for solar photon conversion.
abstract: Both multiple exciton generation (MEG) in semiconductor nanocrystals and singlet fission (SF) in molecular chromophores have the potential to greatly increase the power conversion efficiency of solar cells for the production of solar electricity (photovoltaics) and solar fuels (artificial photosynthesis) when used in solar photoconverters. MEG creates two or more excitons per absorbed photon, and SF produces two triplet states from a single singlet state. In both cases, multiple charge carriers from a single absorbed photon can be extracted from the cell and used to create higher power conversion efficiencies for a photovoltaic cell or a cell that produces solar fuels, like hydrogen from water splitting or reduced carbon fuels from carbon dioxide and water (analogous to biological photosynthesis). The similarities and differences in the mechanisms and photoconversion cell architectures between MEG and SF are discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.affiliation: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
authors.forename: Justin C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.affiliation: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA arthur.nozik@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Arthur J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nozik
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003198:Computer Simulation; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D017785:Photons; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012993:Solar Energy; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: carrier multiplication; multiple exciton generation; multiple triplet excitons; photovoltaics; quantum dots; singlet fission