Chlorophyll-sensitized solar cells
The photovoltaic properties of the green plant pigment chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) were investigated in photoelectrochemical and solid-state solar cells. Both types of cells utilized a thin film of Chl-a electrodeposited on a SnO/sub 2/ optically transparent electrode. Solid state cells were fabricated by vapor depositing a thin layer of metal on top of the Chl-a to produce a SnO/sub 2//Chl-a/metal sandwich cell. Photoelectrochemical cells were assembled by immersing the SnO/sub 2//Chl-a electrode in an aqueous electrolyte solution along with a counter electrode. Both types of Chl-a cells were generally characterized by a strong dependence of the photoactivity on the other cell components and a surprisingly large photovoltage. Photoelectrochemical cells of SnO/sub 2//Chl-a/aq. AlCl/sub 3/ were seen to produce photovoltages as high as 1.1 V and photocurrents of 1.1 ..mu..A/cm/sub 2/ while a solid state cell of SnO/sub 2//Chl-a/Al could produce 1.4 V and an initial photocurrent of 200 ..mu..A/cm/sup 2/. This photoactivity was strongly time dependent in both configurations. Despite this fact these cells are the most powerful Ch-a sensitized solar cells yet reported.
- Research Organization:
- Virginia Univ., Charlottesville (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5988566
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
CHLOROPHYLL
SOLAR CELLS
ELECTRODES
PERFORMANCE
TIN OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
EQUIPMENT
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TIN COMPOUNDS
140505* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)
140501 - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion