Projects

Organic Bulk Heterojunction Devices for Photovoltaic Solar Cell Applications

This study proposes the investigation of “Bulk Heterojunction” solar cells consisting of different types of p-type (donor) and n-type (acceptor) network. The various chemicals proposed to be used in this study are metal phthalocyanines, polypyrrole, polythiophene, azo dyes, etc. The working of this solar cell is shown in the diagram.

Main objectives of the work are:

• Identification and collection of materials like metal phthalocyanines, conjugated polymers, azo dyes, etc.
• Optical characterization of the collected materials
• Making of bulk heterojunction thin films using spin coating technique, thermal vapour deposition and sputtering
• Making electrical contact over the prepared film by thermal evaporation
• Optical and electrical characteristics study of the prepared film

Attempts are also made to make Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSCs) which are also bulk heterojunction devices. The best result obtained under this work is out of DSSC incorporating functionalized Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNTs) in working electrode sensitized by an organic dye – Rose bengal dye (Power Conversion Efficiency =3.7%. This work was presented at the ESF-FWF-LFUI Conference on Nanotechnology for Sustainable Energy, Obergurgl, near Innsbruck, Austria, 4 – 9 July 2010.