Title: Asphaltene based photovoltaic devices

Abstract

Photovoltaic devices and methods of making the same, are disclosed herein. The cell comprises a photovoltaic device that comprises a first electrically conductive layer comprising a photo-sensitized electrode; at least one photoelectrochemical layer comprising metal-oxide particles, an electrolyte solution comprising at least one asphaltene fraction, wherein the metal-oxide particles are optionally dispersed in a surfactant; and a second electrically conductive layer comprising a counter-electrode, wherein the second electrically conductive layer comprises one or more conductive elements comprising carbon, graphite, soot, carbon allotropes or any combinations thereof.

Inventors:

Chianelli, Russell R.; Castillo, Karina; Gupta, Vipin; Qudah, Ali M.; Torres, Brenda; Abujnah, Rajib E.

Issue Date:

Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2016

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1243317

Patent Number(s):

9293266

Application Number:

14/262,519

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System (Austin, TX) Sandia Corporation (Austin, TX)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E01 - CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES E01C - CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

B82Y10/00 - Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E01 - CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES E01C - CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE

E01C9/00 - Special pavings

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01G - CAPACITORS

H01G9/2031 - {comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2
H01G9/2059 - {comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/542 - Dye sensitized solar cells

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2014 Apr 25

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE