In this dissertation, the multiple facets of benzodithiophene (BDT) units are explored, with a focus on understanding how the isomerism of the BDT structure affects the macroscopic properties of the oligomeric and polymeric materials created. First, the story focuses on an overview of the BDT synthons and their applications in organic electronics. A straightforward synthesis of BDT and its derivatization to seven π-conjugated building blocks and seven polymers is presented. Then, symmetric (donor)2-acceptor (D2-A) dye architecture for application in dye-sensitized solar cells are investigated. Two isomeric systems are studied, and the branched sensitizers show a greater incident photon-to-current efficiency than the linear dyes. The nature of the accepting core is also varied between dibenzophenazine to dithienophenazine. The sensitizer with the weakest accepting core displays the best photovoltaic performance, due to an increase in the open-circuit voltage of ~100 mV caused by the favorable shift of the metal oxide conduction band. Lastly, a study of the donating building blocks in these (D2-A) sensitizers demonstrates that increasing the number of donor units from two to six thiophene moiety doubles the solar cell performance, due to the improvement of the light harvesting ability.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo e caracterizaÃÃo de corantes com flores de plantas coletadas na regiÃo Nordeste do Brasil, tais como: a Sida cordifolia (malva branca), a Catharanthus roseus (boa noite) e a Torenia fournieri (amor-perfeito-de-verÃo), Allamanda catÃrtica (alamanda da flor grande) e Cobaea scandens (sino de catedral). Foi estudado e observado a influÃncia dos flavonoides na sensibilizaÃÃo dos corantes naturais por meio de um protÃtipo de cÃlula fotovoltaica, com vidros condutores com um filme de SnO2:F produzidos por spray PirÃlise. As plantas foram submetidas a um tratamento de lavagem. Foram maceradas e imersas em um solvente extrator. ApÃs alguns dias, foram concentradas no rotaevaporador a uma velocidade 160 rpm em temperatura ambiente por 40 minutos. Este corante foi aplicado sobre uma camada de TiO2 e entÃo a cÃlula foi testada sob a luz solar. Os valores obtidos foram: Torenia fournieri, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,44 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,16 V; Catharanthus roseus, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,43 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,14 V; Sida cordifolia, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,22 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,19 V; Allamanda catÃrtica, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,19 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,12V; Cobaea scandens, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,32 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,17V. Estes resultados podem fornecer mais dados para melhor entendimento e uso de novos corantes naturais em cÃlulas solares. / This paper presents a study and characterization of dyes with flowers of plants collected in the Northeast of Brazil, such as Sida cordifolia (malva branca), the Catharanthus roseus (boa noite), Torenia fournieri (amor-perfeito-de-verÃo), Alamanda cathartic (alamanda da flor grande) and Cobaea scandens (sino de catedral). Was studied and observed the influence of flavonoids in the sensitization of natural dyes by means of a prototype solar cell with conductive film with a glass of SnO2: F produced by spray pyrolysis. The conductive glass was obtained precursor solution (HCl/H2O) containing of tin II chloride dihydrate (SnCl2.2H2O), ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and a slide glass heated to 600 Â C. The solution was sprayed on the heated substrate. About conductive glass was deposited a layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2). The layer was obtained by dissolving in commercial TiO2 powder acetic acid (CH3CO2H) and Triton X. The electrolyte was a solution of iodine / triiodide into the intracellular regeneration cycle, the counter electrode was a layer made of graphite. The plants were treated with a by washing with deionized water, drying with heat gun and Silica Gel to absorb moisture. Were macerated and immersed in an organic solvent. After a few days, were concentrated in a rotary evaporator at a speed 160 rpm at room temperature for 40 minutes. This dye was applied on the TiO2 layer and then the cell was tested under sunlight. The values obtained were: Torenia fournieri, short-circuit current = 0.44 mA and open circuit voltage V = 0.16; Catharanthus roseus, short-circuit current = 0.43 mA = 0 and open-circuit voltage, 14 V, Sida cordifolia, short-circuit current = 0.22 mA and open circuit voltage V = 0.19; Allamanda cathartic, short-circuit current = 0.19 mA and open circuit voltage V = 0.12; Cobaea scandens, short-circuit current = 0.32 mA and open circuit voltage = 0.17 V. These results may provide more data for better understanding and use of new natural dyes in solar cells.

Actuellement, le secteur des nanotechnologies est en développement intense. Les nanoparticules de dioxyde de titane et d¿or occupent une part importante de ce secteur, avec des applications utilisant principalement leurs propriétés optiques et catalytiques. Les synergies pouvant exister entre les nanoparticules d¿or et leur support, en particulier via l¿effet plasmon, permettent de modifier la réponse optique de dispositifs catalytiques ou photovoltaïques. Une nouvelle technique polyvalente de mise en forme de film mésoporeux à base de nanoparticules de dioxyde de titane et d¿or a été développée. L¿utilisation de différentes méthodes de synthèse des nanoparticules a permis le contrôle de la morphologie et des propriétés physiques des films déposés par centrifugation. Finalement, l¿adéquation de ces films à leur utilisation en tant qu¿anode de cellules solaires à colorant a été évaluée. / Nanotechnologies represent a fast growing market. Gold and titanium dioxide nanoparticles are an important part of this market, thanks to their optical and catalytic properties. Existing synergies between gold nanoparticles and their substrate, mainly via the plasmonic effect, allow modifying the optical response of catalytic and photovoltaic systems. A new versatile approach is proposed to form mesoporous nanostructures composed of gold and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The use of various syntheses allowed the formation of nanoparticles leading to a good control upon aggregation morphology and physical properties of centrifuged films. Finally, appropriateness of these films for a use as dye sensitized solar cell anodes was evaluated.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第20657号 / 理博第4322号 / 新制||理||1621(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科化学専攻 / (主査)教授 寺西 利治, 教授 島川 祐一, 教授 小野 輝男 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

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Le développement d'un colorant naturel sensibilisateur pour les applications de cellules solaires a attiré beaucoup d'attention en raison de ses avantages inhérents, tels que son faible coût, la préparation simple, les ressources facilement disponibles et le respect de l'environnement. Toutefois, les principaux problèmes liés à la cellule solaire sensibilisée par colorant (CSSC) sont une faible photostabilité et une faible efficacité. Dans cette thèse, la bixine extrait de graines de rocou (Bixa orellana L.) a été utilisée comme sensibilisateur. Pour améliorer sa stabilité et la performance des CSSC, l’utilisation de la kaolinite activée a également été étudiée. Une CSSC à haute efficacité nécessite une photo-électrode avec une grande surface spécifique pour adsorber efficacement le colorant. Ainsi le couple TiO2/kaolinite a été préparé dans ce but. Il est considéré que la kaolinite peut confiner la lumière incidente à l'intérieur de l'électrode et peut aussi améliorer la conduction d'électrons. Dans ce système, la kaolinite a également un rôle important pour accroître la photostabilité de la bixine. Un autre facteur affectant les performances des CSSC est le rôle important de l’électrolyte. Dans ces travaux, les carbonates organiques cycliques qui ont une constante diélectrique élevée et aussi un point d’ébullition élevé (plus de 300oC) ont été évalués comme solvants de l’électrolyte. Ces travaux ont été réalisés en quatre étapes: (1) extraction, purification et caractérisation de la bixine, (2) préparation, activation et caractérisation de la kaolinite, (3) étude d’adsorption de la bixine sur la surface de la kaolinite et du TiO2, et (4) fabrication des cellules solaires sensibilisées par la bixine (CSSB). Les résultats montrent que l’extraction accélérée par solvant en utilisant un mélange de 60% de cyclohexane et 40% d’acétone peut être une méthode d’extraction efficace pour la bixine. Après purification par la chromatographie flash, la bixine est isolée avec un dégré de pureté de 99,86%. Elle est composée de 88,11% de cis-bixine et 11,75% de dicis- bixine. L’activation par l’ammoniaque de la kaolinite calcinée (la métakaolinite) est une bonne méthode pour produire la kaolinite avec une très grande surface spécifique et un rapport Si/Al élevé. L’étude d’absorption de la bixine a montré que le carbonate de diméthyle est un solvant approprié pour la bixine. Il permet à la bixine un coefficient d’absorption élevé et de bonnes caractéristiques d’adsorption sur la surface de la photo-électrode. L’adsorption de monocouche de la bixine sur la surface de TiO2 ou la surface de la kaolinite est plus favorable pour obtenir un rendement énergétique plus élevée. La présence de la métakaolinite activée dans la photo-électrode TiO2 a contribué à améliorer les performances et la stabilité de la CSSB par rapport à la CSSB fabriquée avec la photoélectrode de TiO2 pur. Ces performances sont reproductibles. L’électrolyte exerce un effet synergétique avec la métakaolinite activée en faveur de l’amélioration des paramètres électriques de la CSSB. Sous une intensité lumineuse de 200 W/m2, la CSSB comprenant une photo-électrode de TiO2 modifié par 5% de métakaolinite activée et un système électrolyte de KiI/I2 dans l’acétate de carbonate de glycérol produit un rendement énergétique de (0,050+0,006)%, ce qui est plus élevé que celui de la CSSB comprenant une photo-électrode de TiO2 pur (0,027+0,012)%. L’utilisation d’un couple redox de LiI/I2 dans l’acétate de carbonate de glycérol produit le rendement maximum (0,086+0,014)%. La fonction de stockage et de chargement d’énergie des CSSB fonctionnent bien jusqu’au troisième jour de l’analyse. A ce jour, la CSSB fabriquée en utilisant la photoélectrode de TiO2 modifiée par la métakaolinite activée est 16 fois plus stable que celle de la CSSB fabriquée en utilisant la photo-électrode de TiO2 pur. / The development of natural dye sensitizer for solar cell applications has attracted much attention because of its inherent advantages such as low cost, simple preparation, readily available resources, and low impact in the environment. However, the main problems related to dye-sensitized solar cell (DCCS) are low photostability and low efficiency. In this thesis, the bixin extracted from annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seeds was used as sensitizer. To improve its stability and the performance of the DSSC, the use of activated kaolinite was also studied. A high efficiency DSSC requires a photo-electrode with a high surface area to effectively adsorb the dye. So the couple of TiO2/kaolinite photo-electrode was prepared for this purpose. It is considered that kaolinite can confine the incident light within the electrode and can also improve the conduction of electrons. In this system, kaolinite also has an important role to increase the photostability of bixin. Another factor affecting the performance of DSSC is the important role of the electrolyte. In these studies, cyclic organic carbonates that have a high dielectric constant and also a high boiling point (above 300oC) were evaluated as solvents in the electrolyte. These works were carried out in four stages: (1) extraction, purification and characterization of bixin, (2) preparation, characterization and activation of kaolinite, (3) study of adsorption of bixin on the surface of kaolinite and TiO2, and (4) manufacturing of bixin sensitized solar cell (BSSC). The results show that the accelerated solvent extraction using a mixture of 60% cyclohexane and 40% acetone can be an effective method of extraction for bixin. After purification by flash chromatography, bixin with a degree of purity of 99.86% was isolated. It is composed of 88.11% cisbixin and 11.75% di-cis-bixin. The activation of calcined kaolinite (metakaolinite) by ammonia is a good method to produce kaolinite with very high specific surface area and a higher Si/Al ratio. The absorption study bixin has shown that the dimethyl carbonate is a suitable solvent for bixin. It allows bixin to have a high absorption coefficient and good adsorption characteristics onto the surface of the photo-electrode. The monolayer adsorption of bixin on the surface of TiO2 or kaolinite is more favorable to obtain higher energy efficiency. The presence of activated metakaolinite in the photo-electrode TiO2 has proven to improve the performance and stability of the BSSC compared to the BSSC manufactured with the pure TiO2 photo-electrode. These performances are reproducible. The electrolyte has a synergistic effect with the activated metakaolinite for improving the electrical parameters of the BSSC. Under a light intensity of 200 W/m2, the BSSC including a photo-electrode of TiO2 modified by 5% of the activated metakaolinite and KI/I2 electrolyte system in glycerol carbonate acetate produced an energy efficiency of (0.050+ 0.006)%, which is higher than that of the BSSC comprising a pure TiO2 photoelectrode (0.027+0.012)%. The use of LiI/I2 a redox couple in the glycerol carbonate acetate produces the maximum energy efficiency of (0.086+0.014)%. Its function of energy storage and loading worked well until the third day of analysis. To date, the BSSC manufactured using the photoelectrode TiO2 modified by activated metakaolinite is 16 times more stable than the BSSC manufactured using the pure TiO2 photo-electrode.

<p>The principles of dye-sensitized solar cells were studied and are outlined in this thesis. An overview of the basic steps needed to create a DSC isfollowed by detailed experimental information on how to assemble the solar cells that were fabricated in this project. They were based on synthesizednanocrystalline ZnO thin films sensitized by chlorophyll a as well as isolated photopigments from spinach leaves. The nanocrystals werestudied using XRD, and it was confirmed that three different methods of synthesis resulted in ZnO crystals of a few nanometers. The solar cellswere assembled with Au electrodes in a sandwich configuration and their photovoltaic properties were measured. Overall light-to-electricity conversionwas low with the highest efficiency being 0.21 %. An astonishingly low efficiency of 0.0003 % was noted for a thin film which was not thermallytreated, and it is suggested that heat-treatment is of great importance. It was also found that photopigments from spinach can be extractedeasily and used as molecular sensitizer without any demanding purification steps.</p>

Ink-jet printing offers an ideal answer to the emerging trends and demands of depositing at ambient temperatures picoliter droplets of oxide solutions into functional thin films and device components with a high degree of pixel precision. It is a direct single-step mask-free patterning technique that enables multi-layer and 3D patterning. This method is fast, simple, easily scalable, precise, inexpensive and cost effective compared to any of other methods available for the realization of the promise of flexible, and/or stretchable electronics of the future on virtually any type of substrate. Because low temperatures are used and no aggressive chemicals are required for ink preparation, ink-jet technique is compatible with a very broad range of functional materials like polymers, proteins and even live cells, which can be used to fabricate inorganic/organic/bio hybrids, bio-sensors and lab-on-chip architectures. After a discussion of the essentials of ink-jet technology, this thesis focuses particularly on the art of designing long term stable inks for fabricating thin films and devices especially oxide functional components for electronics, solar energy conversion, opto-electronics and spintronics. We have investigated three classes of inks: nanoparticle suspension based, surface modified nanoparticles based, and direct precursor solution based. Examples of the films produced using these inks and their functional properties are: 1) In order to obtain magnetite nanoparticles with high magnetic moment and narrow size distribution in suspensions for medical diagnostics, we have developed a rapid mixing technique and produced nanoparticles with moments close to theoretical values (APL 2011 and Nanotechnology 2012). The suspensions produced have been tailored to be stable over a long period of time. 2)In order to design photonic band gaps, suspensions of spherical SiO2 particles were produced by chemical hydrolysis (JAP 2010 and JNP 2011 - not discussed in the thesis). 3) Using suspension inks, (ZnO)1-x(TiO2)x composite films have been printed and used to fabricate dye sensitized solar cells (JMR 2012). The thickness and the composition of the films can be easily tailored in the inkjet printing process. Consequently, the solar cell performance is optimized. We find that adding Ag nanoparticles improves the ‘metal-bridge’ between the TiO2 grains while maintaining the desired porous structure in the films. The photoluminescence spectra show that adding Ag reduces the emission intensity by a factor of two. This indicates that Ag atoms act as traps to capture electrons and inhibit recombination of electron-hole pairs, which is desirable for photo-voltaic applications. 4) To obtain and study room temperature contamination free ferromagnetic spintronic materials, defect induced and Fe doped MgO and ZnO were synthesized ‘in-situ’ by precursor solution technique (preprints). It is found that the origin of magnetism in these materials (APL 2012 and MRS 2012) is intrinsic and probably due to charge transfer hole doping. 5) ITO thin films were fabricated via inkjet printing directly from liquid precursors. The films are highly transparent (transparency &gt;90% both in the visible and IR range, which is rather unique as compared to any other film growth technique) and conductive (resistivity can be ~0.03 Ω•cm). The films have nano-porous structure, which is an added bonus from ink jetting that makes such films applicable for a broad range of applications. One example is in implantable biomedical components and lab-on-chip architectures where high transparency of the well conductive ITO electrodes makes them easily compatible with the use of quantum dots and fluorescent dyes. In summary, the inkjet patterning technique is incredibly versatile and applicable for a multitude of metal and oxide deposition and patterning. Especially in the case of using acetate solutions as inks (a method demonstrated for the first time by our group), the oxide films can be prepared ‘in-situ’ by direct patterning on the substrate without any prior synthesis stages, and the fabricated films are stoichiometric, uniform and smooth. This technique will most certainly continue to be a versatile tool in industrial manufacturing processes for material deposition in the future, as well as a unique fabrication tool for tailorable functional components and devices. / <p>QC 20120907</p>

In this study, we investigated the effect of electrolyte composition, photoanode thickness, and the additions of GuSCN (guanidinium thiocyanate), NMB (N-methylbenimidazole), and SiO2 on the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs (dye sensitized solar cells). A bifacial DSSC is realized and irradiated from front and rear sides. The devices give maximum photovoltaic efficiencies for 70% PMII (1-propyl 3-ethylimidazoliumiodide)/30%(EMIB(CN)4)(1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetracyano borate) electrolyte composition and 10 &mu / m thick photoanode coating which is considered to be the ideal coating thickness for the diffusion length of electrolyte and dye absorption. A significant increase in the photocurrent for DSSCs with optimum molarity of 0.1 M GuSCN was observed due to decreased recombination which is believed to be surface passivation effect at photoanode electrolyte interface suppressing recombination rate. Moreover, optimum NMB molarity was found to be 0.4 for maximum efficiency. Addition of SiO2 to the electrolyte both as an overlayer and dispersed particles enhanced rear side illuminated cells where dispersed particles are found to be more efficient for the front side illuminated cells due to additional electron transport properties. Best rear side illuminated cell efficiency was 3.2% compared to front side illuminated cell efficiency of 4.2% which is a promising result for future rear side dye sensitized solar cell applications where front side illumination is not possible like tandem structures and for cells working from both front and rear side illuminations.

The principles of dye-sensitized solar cells were studied and are outlined in this thesis. An overview of the basic steps needed to create a DSC isfollowed by detailed experimental information on how to assemble the solar cells that were fabricated in this project. They were based on synthesizednanocrystalline ZnO thin films sensitized by chlorophyll a as well as isolated photopigments from spinach leaves. The nanocrystals werestudied using XRD, and it was confirmed that three different methods of synthesis resulted in ZnO crystals of a few nanometers. The solar cellswere assembled with Au electrodes in a sandwich configuration and their photovoltaic properties were measured. Overall light-to-electricity conversionwas low with the highest efficiency being 0.21 %. An astonishingly low efficiency of 0.0003 % was noted for a thin film which was not thermallytreated, and it is suggested that heat-treatment is of great importance. It was also found that photopigments from spinach can be extractedeasily and used as molecular sensitizer without any demanding purification steps.