Johan Oscarsson

Electronic Structure of TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cell Interfaces

The electronic structure and chemical composition of efficient CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cell materials deposited onto mesoporous TiO2 were studied using photoelectron spectroscopy with hard X-rays. With this technique, it is possible to directly measure the occupied energy levels of the perovskite as well as the TiO2 buried beneath and thereby determine the energy level matching of the interface. The measurements of the valence levels were in good agreement with simulated density of states, and the investigation gives information on the character of the valence levels. We also show that two different deposition techniques give results indicating similar electronic structures.

Enhancement of p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance by Supramolecular Assembly of Electron Donor and Acceptor

Supramolecular interactions based on porphyrin and fullerene derivatives were successfully adopted to improve the photovoltaic performance of p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) measurements suggest a change in binding configuration of ZnTCPP after co-sensitization with C60PPy, which could be ascribed to supramolecular interaction between ZnTCPP and C60PPy. The performance of the ZnTCPP/C60PPy-based p-type DSC has been increased by a factor of 4 in comparison with the DSC with the ZnTCPP alone. At 560 nm, the IPCE value of DSCs based on ZnTCPP/C60PPy was a factor of 10 greater than that generated by ZnTCPP-based DSCs. The influence of different electrolytes on charge extraction and electron lifetime was investigated and showed that the enhanced Voc from the Co2+/3+(dtbp)3-based device is due to the positive EF shift of NiO.

Geometrical and energetical structural changes in organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells probed using photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT

The effects of alkoxy chain length in triarylamine based donor-acceptor organic dyes are investigated with respect to the electronic and molecular surface structures on the performance of solar cells and the electron lifetime. The dyes were investigated when adsorbed on TiO2 in a configuration that can be used for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Specifically, the two dyes D35 and D45 were compared using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The differences in solar cell characteristics when longer alkoxy chains are introduced in the dye donor unit are attributed to geometrical changes in dye packing while only minor differences were observed in the electronic structure. A higher dye load was observed for D45 on TiO2. However, D35 based solar cells result in higher photocurrent although the dye load is lower. This is explained by different geometrical structures of the dyes on the surface.

Dipicolinic acid: a strong anchoring group with tunable redox and spectral behavior for stable dye-sensitized solar cells

Dipicolinic acid was investigated as a new anchoring group for DSSCs. A pilot dye (PD2) bearing this new anchoring group was found to adsorb significantly stronger to TiO2 than its cyanoacrylic acid analogue. The electrolyte composition was found to have a strong effect on the photoelectrochemical properties of the adsorbed dye in the device, allowing the dye LUMO energy to be tuned by 0.5 eV. Using a pyridine-free electrolyte, panchromatic absorption of the dye on TiO2 extending to 900 nm has been achieved. Solar cells using PD2 and a Co(bpy)3 based electrolyte showed unique stability under simulated sunlight and elevated temperatures.

Mesoporous TiO2 microbead electrodes for solid state dye-sensitized solar cells

Mesoporous TiO2 microbead films have been investigated as working electrodes for solid state dye sensitized solar cells and 3.5% efficiency was achieved for 4 micrometer thick films under 1 sun illumination. Compared to conventional mesoporous solar cells, microbead films have higher porosity, increased open circuit voltage, lower fill factor and current density, faster transport time and lower electron lifetime. Cross sectional scanning electron microscopy results show that the pore filling of a solid hole conductor (spiro-OMeTAD) inside the entire mesoporous bead film is very good even for 4 micrometer thick films. The high porosity of the microbead film allows good penetration of spiro in thick films, while its high surface area ensures good dye coverage. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data reveals a lower density of intra-bandgap trap states for microbead films compared to conventional mesoporous TiO2 films, which could be in part responsible for faster transport of electrons and higher voltage in microbead films. Optimization of microbead films for solid state dye sensitized solar cells can be an interesting possibility for highly efficient and relatively thick film solid state solar cells.