Polymer Based Nanocomposites for Solar Energy Conversion

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2005

OSTI ID:860836

Shaheen, S; Olson, D; White, M; Mitchell, W; Miedaner, A; Curtis, C; Rumbles, G; Gregg, B; Ginley, D

Organic semiconductor-based photovoltaic devices offer the promise of low cost photovoltaic technology that can be manufactured via large-scale, roll-to-roll printing techniques. Existing organic photovoltaic devices are currently limited to solar power conversion efficiencies of 3?5%. This is because of poor overlap between the absorption spectrum of the organic chromophores and the solar spectrum, non-ideal band alignment between the donor and acceptor species, and low charge carrier mobilities. To address these issues, we are investigating the development of dendrimeric organic semiconductors that are readily synthesized with high purity. They also benefit from optoelectronic properties, such as band gap and band positions, which can be easily tuned by substituting different chemical groups into the molecule. Additionally, we are developing nanostructured oxide/conjugated polymer composite photovoltaics. These composites take advantage of the high electron mobilities attainable in oxide semiconductors and can be fabricated using low-temperature solution-based growth techniques. Here, we discuss the synthesis and preliminary device results of these novel materials and composites.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99-GO10337
• OSTI ID: 860836
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-520-37042; TRN: US0504963
• Resource Relation: Related Information: Presented at the 2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting, 25-28 October 2004, Denver, Colorado. Also included in the proceedings available on CD-ROM (DOE/GO-102005-2067; NREL/CD-520-37140)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION
ALIGNMENT
CHARGE CARRIERS
ELECTRONS
ORGANIC SEMICONDUCTORS
OXIDES
POLYMERS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SYNTHESIS
PV
POLYMER BASED NANOCOMPOSITES
ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAICS (OPV)
SOLAR POWER CONVERSION
DEVICE
SOLAR CELLS
SEMICONDUCTOR
BAND GAP
Solar Energy - Photovoltaics
Basic Sciences
Materials Science and Semiconductors
Superconductivity