Les cellules solaires à colorant (DSSC) sont une alternative sérieuse aux cellules à base de silicium. Le principe de fonctionnement repose sur la photosensibilisation d'un semi-conducteur par un colorant qui est en général un complexe polypyridinique du ruthénium (II). La modulation des propriétés de ces complexes permet d'optimiser les performances des cellules solaires correspondantes. Dans cette thèse, nous avons synthétisé et étudié l'effet de nouveaux ligands bipyridiniques à substituants électro-donneurs [pi]-délocalisés à base de dithiénylpyrroles (DTP). Ces motifs induisent, dans les complexes homoleptiques, bis- et tris-hétéroleptiques du Ru(II), des effets bathochromes (lorsque les motifs DTP sont liés par leur cycle thiophénique à la bipyridine) et d'importantes augmentations des coefficients d'extinction molaires. Les nouveaux composés ont été caractérisés par spectroscopies, électrochimie, photophysique et calcul théorique. Deux complexes hétéroleptiques ont été testés en cellule DSSC. Si la collecte de photons est excellente, les performances restent en dessous de celles de colorants de référence. Comme en attestent les courbes J/V et les courbes IPCE. Ce résultat peut-être dû à une limitation lors de l'injection dans la bande de conduction ou encore à une gêne stéréo-électronique provoquée par le ligand lors de la réduction du colorant oxydé (Ru(III) par le médiateur / Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) appear to be promising devices. Operation principle relies on the photosensitization of a wide-gap semiconductor with a dye, the latter typically being a polypyridinyl ruthenium(II) complex. Modulation of the properties of such complexes enables the optimization of the corresponding solar cells' performances. In the present work, we synthesized and investigated the effect of new bipyridine ligands bearing electron-donating dithienylpyrroles (DTP). These moieties induced red-shifts of the absorption spectra in homoleptic, bis- and tris-heteroleptic Ru(II) complexes especially when the DTP was bound by its thiophene unit to the bipyridine ligand. A notable increase of the molar extinction coefficients was also obtained. All new compounds have been characterized by using spectroscopic, electrochemical, photophysical and computational chemistry techniques. Two heteroleptic complexes have been tested in DSSCs. Despite excellent light harvesting properties, performances were found lower than those of standard dyes as revealed by J/V and IPCE curves. Stereoelectronic effects could be involved since the bulky DTP moiety could impede an efficient access of the mediator to Ru(III) centers

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attained considerable attention during the last decade because of the potential of becoming a low cost alternative to silicon based solar cells. Electron transport is one of the prominent processes in the cell and it is further a complex process because the transport medium is a mesoporous film. The gaps in the pores are completely filled by an electrolyte with high ionic strength, resulting in electron-ion interactions. Therefore, the electron transport in these so called state-of-the-art systems has a practical limit because of the low electron diffusion coefficient (Dn) in this mesoporous film photoanode. This work focuses on the influence of the advanced core-shell nanoarchitecture geometry on electron transport and also on the influence of electron-ion interactions. In order to achieve the proposed goals, DSSCs based on ordered, highly aligned, 3D radial core-shell Au-TiO2 hybrid nanowire arrays were fabricated, using three different approaches. J-V, IPCE, and EIS characteristics were studied. The efficiency, light scattering and charge transport properties of the core-shell nanowire based devices were compared to TiO2 nanotube as well as TiO2 mesoporous film based DSSCs. The Au nanowires inside the crystalline TiO2 anatase nanoshell provided a direct conduction path from the TiO2 shell to the TCO substrate and improved transport of electrons between the TiO2 and the TCO. The optical effects were studied by IPCE measurement which demonstrated that Au-TiO2 nanowires showed an improved light harvesting efficiency, including at longer wavelengths where the sensitizer has weak absorption. The metal nanostructures could enhance the absorption in DSSCs by either scattering light enabling a longer optical path-length, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) or by near-field coupling between the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and the dye excited state. Rapid, radial electron collection is of practical significance because it should allow alternate redox shuttles that show relatively fast electron-interception dynamics to be utilized without significant sacrifice of photocurrent. A combination of improved electron transport and enhanced light harvesting capability make Au-TiO2 core-shell nanowire arrays a promising photoanode nanoarchitecture for improving photovoltaic efficiency while minimizing costs by allowing thinner devices that use less material in their construction.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. André Sarto Polo / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência & Tecnologia - Química, 2014. / O trabalho desenvolvido teve como foco sintetizar compostos tris-heterolepticos de rutenio(II), o cis-[Ru(phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2], o cis-[Ru(Me2-phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2] e o cis-[Ru(Ph2-phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2]. Estes compostos foram sintetizados pela rota one-pot que forneceu rendimentos superiores a 60%. A escolha dos substituintes nas posicoes 4 e 7 da fenantrolina foram feitas com o intuito de analisar o efeito causado por um grupo retirador de eletrons (Ph - fenila) e por um grupo doador de eletrons (Me - metila). Os compostos sintetizados foram caracterizados por analise elementar, espectroscopia eletronica, espectroscopia vibracional, emissao e ressonancia magnetica nuclear de 1H. Pelo espectro vibracional constatou-se que o aumento da densidade eletronica causado pelo grupo doador de eletrons desloca o ¿Þ(CN)NCS para uma regiao de maior energia e apresenta um efeito contrario para o grupo retirador de eletrons. Com o auxilio da ressonancia magnetica nuclear de 1H foi possivel comparar os sinais dos protons H2 e verificou-se que o composto com o substituinte com o grupo doador de eletrons foi deslocado para campo alto em relacao ao composto com o substituinte com o grupo retirador de eletrons. Os grupos substituintes influenciam muito pouco nas propriedades eletronicas dos compostos sintetizados. Os espectros de emissao dos compostos apresentam bandas largas e nao estruturadas, tipicas de emissao proveniente do estado thexi 3MLCT. Os tres compostos foram utilizados como corantes sensibilizadores de celulas solares. Com este trabalho observou-se que pela escolha adequada dos grupos substituintes e possivel modular as propriedades dos corantes sensibilizadores. O desempenho fotoeletroquimico foi avaliado por testes de curvas de corrente potencial e apresentaram os seguintes resultados: cis-[Ru(phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2]: Voc = 0,733 V, Jsc = 8,67 mA cm-2, ff = 0,61 e £b = 3,78%; cis-[Ru(Me2-phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2]: Voc = 0,683 V, Jsc = 12,72 mA cm-2, ff = 0,55 e £b = 4,60%; cis-[Ru(Ph2-phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2]: Voc = 0,738 V, Jsc = 13,28 mA cm-2, ff = 0,63 e £b = 6,18%. / The developed work focused on synthesizing compounds tris-heteroleptic ruthenium(II), cis-[Ru(phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2], cis-[Ru(Me2-phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2] and were synthesized cis-[Ru(Ph2-phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2]. These compounds were synthesized by one-pot route which provided higher yields at 60%. The choice of the substituents at positions 4 and 7 of phenanthroline were made in order to analyze the effect caused by an electron withdrawing group (Ph - phenyl) and an electron donating group (Me - methyl). The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, emission and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. For the vibrational spectrum it was found that increasing the electron density caused by the electron donating group displaces the ¿Þ(CN)NCS for a higher energy region and has an opposite effect to the electron withdrawing group. With the aid of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance was possible to compare the signals of the protons H2, and it was found that the compound of the substituent with electron donating group was shifted upfield compared to the compound with the substituent withdrawing group electrons. The substituent groups very little influence on the electronic properties of the synthesized compounds. Emission spectra of the compounds show broad and unstructured bands, typical of emission from the 3MLCT thexi state. The three compounds were used as sensitizing dyes of solar cells. With this work it was observed that with the appropriate choice of substituents is possible to modulate the properties of the dyes. The photoelectrochemical performance was evaluated by testing current and potential curves showed the following results: cis-[Ru(phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2]: Voc = 0.733 V, Jsc = 8.67 mA cm- 2, ff = 0.61 and £b = 3.78 %; cis-[Ru(Me2-phen)(dcbH2)(NCS)2]: Voc = 0.683 V, Jsc = 12.72 mA cm-2, ff = 0.55 and £b = 4.60 %; cis-[Ru(Ph2-phen phen)(dcbH2)( NCS)2]: Voc = 0.738 V, Jsc = 13.28 mA cm-2, ff = 0.63 and ç = 6.18 % .

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Complexos de bipiridinas de rutÃnio sÃo bastante estudados na literatura por apresentarem propriedades de interesse em diversas Ãreas como estudos fotoquÃmicos e fotofÃsicos, aplicaÃÃo em sistemas biolÃgicos e como fotosensibilizadores em cÃlulas solares. No presente trabalho, os complexos do tipo cis-[Ru(bpy)(dcbH2)(L)Cl], onde L = Azul do Nilo (NB), Azul de Toluidina (TBO), 9-Aminoacridina (9AA), Azure B (AB) e Violeta de Cresila (VC) foram sintetizados e caracterizados por tÃcnicas espectroscÃpicas e eletroquÃmica para aplicaÃÃo em cÃlulas solares sensibilizadas por corante (DSCs). AlÃm destes, o complexo cis-[Ru(dcbH2)(bpy)(TCNE)Cl] (Ru-TCNE) tambÃm foi testado como sensibilizador em DSC. Estes compostos apresentaram bandas de transferÃncia de carga do tipo MLCT na regiÃo do visÃvel e potenciais redox termodinamicamente favorÃveis para as reaÃÃes de transferÃncia de carga que ocorrem no dispositivo fotoeletroquÃmico. A adsorÃÃo quÃmica dos complexos sensibilizadores na superfÃcie do TiO2 foi evidenciada pelo deslocamento das bandas de MLCT para regiÃes de menor energia quando comparadas aos espectros em soluÃÃo. Os desempenhos fotovoltaicos dos complexos como sensibilizadores em DSC foram avaliados atravÃs das curvas corrente versus potencial, obtidas em condiÃÃes padrÃo AM 1,5. As DSCs contendo os sensibilizadores Ru-TBO e Ru-AB apresentaram os menores desempenhos fotovoltaicos com eficiÃncia global de 0,02 e 0,06%, respectivamente. JÃ as cÃlulas solares sensibilizadas pelos corantes Ru-NB e Ru-VC obtiveram um rendimento de 0,11% com baixos valores de eficiÃncia de incidÃncia de conversÃo de fÃtons a corrente, IPCE. Os melhores resultados foram para as cÃlulas contendo os corantes Ru-9AA e Ru-TCNE, as quais apresentaram rendimentos de 0,54 e 2,01%, respectivamente, com valores de IPCE iguais a 10% para Ru-9AA e 48% para Ru-TCNE. Todos os complexos apresentaram eficiÃncia global de conversÃo de energia solar em elÃtrica inferiores ao complexo padrÃo N3. / Bipyridines ruthenium complexes are widely studied in the literature for presenting interesting properties in various fields such as photochemical and photophysical studies, applications in biological systems and as photosensitizers in solar cells. In this work, the complexes of the type cis-[Ru(bpy)(dcbH2)(L)Cl], where L = Nile blue (NB), Toluidine blue (TBO), 9-aminoacridine (9AA), Azure B (AB) and Cresyl Violet (VC) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC). In addition, the complex cis-[Ru(dcbH2)(bpy)(TCNE)Cl] (Ru-TCNE) was also tested as a sensitizer DSC. These compounds showed bands of charge transfer type MLCT in the visible region and thermodynamically favorable redox potentials for the charge transfer reactions which occur in the photoelectrochemical device. The adsorption of the chemical sensitizers complexes on the surface of TiO2 was evidenced by displacement of MLCT bands to lower-energy when compared to the spectra in solution. The photovoltaic performances of the complexes as sensitizers in DSC were evaluated through current versus potential curves obtained in standard AM 1.5 conditions. The DSC sensitizers containing Ru-TBO and Ru-AB had the lowest overall efficiency with photovoltaic performances of 0.02 and 0.06%, respectively. As for the dye-sensitized solar cells by Ru-NB and Ru-VC obtained a yield of 0.11% with low efficiency values of incident conversion of photon to current, IPCE. The best results were for cells containing the dyes Ru-9AA and Ru-TCNE, with energy conversion efficiency of 0.54 and 2.01%, respectively, with IPCE values equal to 10% for Ru-9AA and 48% for Ru-TCNE moieties. All complexes showed overall efficiency of converting solar energy into electricity below the N3 complex pattern.

This dissertation describes the investigation of the synthesis and characterization of new squaraine-based photonic and electronic materials. In the first part of this thesis, squaraine dyes with large conjugation systems, including extended squaraines consisting of bis(donor)substituted vinylene-heterocycles and bis(indolinylenemethyl)squaraine-based oligomers linking through different π-bridges were designed, synthesized and characterized to exhibit strong two-photon absorption (2PA) for femotosecond and nanosecond optical-power limiting applications in the near-infrared (NIR). One of the dendronized squaraine forms smooth and high optical quality films with large NIR transparency window. In the second part, a series of squaraine- and phthalocyanine-based metal complexes were studied. Those dyes did not show large triplet quantum yield but significantly improved photovoltaic performance compared to the metal-free compounds. In the last part, an effective approach on optimizing bis(indolinylenemethyl)-based squaraine sensitizers with various surface anchor groups and π-linkers, achieved high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 6.7% in liquid dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and 2.7% in solid-state DSSCs, which stand out all the previous reported squaraine-based sensitizers.

Τα φωτοβολταϊκά στοιχεία με ευαισθητοποίηση χρωστικής (Dye Sensitized Solar Cells, DSSCs) κίνησαν το ενδιαφέρον της επιστημονικής κοινότητας ύστερα από την πρωτότυπη δημοσίευση του 1991 των Grätzel και O' Regan. Προτάθηκαν ως μία φθηνή εναλλακτική λύση σε σύγκριση με τα συμβατικά ηλιακά στοιχεία από άμορφο πυρίτιο (amorphous silicon). Οι κύριοι παράγοντες που οδήγησαν την επιστημονική κοινότητα να στραφεί προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση ήταν η ευκολία σύνθεσης των χρωστικών με σχετικά απλές χημικές διαδικασίες και η λειτουργία των νέων αυτών φωτοβολταϊκών στοιχείων υπό συνθήκες διάχυτου φωτός. Γενικά, ένα τέτοιο φωτοβολταϊκό στοιχείο αποτελείται από μία φωτοάνοδο (photoanode), ένα πορώδες υπόστρωμα από ημιαγώγιμο οξείδιο μετάλλου (metal oxide semiconducting film), μία χρωστική που χρησιμοποιείται ως φωτοευαισθητοποιητής (sensitizer), έναν ηλεκτρολύτη (electrolyte) και ένα αντιηλεκτρόδιο (counter electrode), το οποίο, συνήθως, επικαλύπτεται με ένα λεπτό στρώμα από πλατίνα (Pt). Η κύρια διεργασία που λαμβάνει μέρος σε ένα DSSC, μετά από την απορρόφηση φωτός, είναι μία διεπιφανειακή μεταφορά φορτίου (interfacial electron transfer IET) από την ηλεκτρονιακά διεγερμένη στάθμη της χρωστικής προς τη ζώνη αγωγιμότητας του ημιαγωγού. Η χρονική της διάρκεια είναι της τάξεως των μερικών εκατοντάδων fs και κατατάσσεται στα υπερταχέα φαινόμενα. Ο όρος που έχει επικρατήσει, για τη διεργασία αυτή στα DSSCs, είναι έκχυση ηλεκτρονίων (electron injection) και χρησιμοποιείται στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία. Η τεχνική της φασματοσκοπίας φθορισμού χρονικής ανάλυσης με παλμούς διάρκειας μερικών δεκάδων fs, αποτελεί μία από τις πιο αξιόπιστες και άμεσες τεχνικές για την καλύτερη δυνατή καταγραφή υπερταχέων φαινομένων, όπως η έκχυση ηλεκτρονίων. Σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η μελέτη της έκχυσης ηλεκτρονίων με τη χρήση δύο νέων οργανικών χρωστικών, της μορφής D-π-A, ως φωτοευαισθητοποιητές σε DSSCs με την τεχνική αυτή.Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο πραγματοποιείται μία γενική επισκόπηση των βασικών αρχών που διέπουν τα φωτοβολταϊκά στοιχεία με ευαισθητοποίηση χρωστικής. Αρχικά, γίνεται αναφορά στα μέρη που αποτελούν ένα τέτοιο φωτοβολταϊκό στοιχείο και ακολούθως στα υλικά και στις διεργασίες οι οποίες συμμετέχουν σε ένα ολοκληρωμένο DSSC.Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο επιχειρείται, στο πρώτο σκέλος, μία γενική ανασκόπηση της θεωρίας του Markus για τη μεταφορά των ηλεκτρονίων (Markus Theory). Έπειτα, πραγματοποιείται μία αναλυτική επισκόπηση της δυναμικής και κινηματικής των διεργασιών που συντελούνται στα DSSCs. Συνεχίζοντας στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζονται πληροφορίες σχετικές με τα υποστρώματα και τις χρωστικές που χρησιμοποιούνται στα DSSCs. Το κεφάλαιο επικεντρώνεται στην περιγραφή των υποστρωμάτων TiO2 και ΖnO, τα οποία αποτελούν τα κύρια υποστρώματα που χρησιμοποιούνται στα DSSCs. Στο δεύτερο σκέλος του κεφαλαίου, πραγματοποιείται αναφορά στις ιδιότητες που οφείλουν να πληρούν οι χρωστικές, για τη χρήση τους στα DSSCs, καθώς και εκτενής ανασκόπηση των χρωστικών, οι οποίες έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί, μέχρι σήμερα, ως φωτοευαισθητοποιητές. Στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζονται οι μηχανισμοί που συμμετέχουν κατά την αποδιέγερση ενός οργανικού μορίου και οι χρονικές κλίμακες, που αυτοί εμφανίζονται (διάγραμμα Jablonski). Επίσης, γίνεται αναφορά στις πληροφορίες που εξάγονται από τα φάσματα σταθερής κατάστασης (steady state spectra) και χρονικής ανάλυσης (time-resolved spectra), καθώς και η μεταξύ τους σύγκριση. Στο πέμπτο κεφάλαιο πραγματοποιείται μία αναλυτική περιγραφή της πειραματικής διάταξης, η οποία χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την εξαγωγή των πειραματικών δεδομένων. Τέλος, στα τελευταία δύο κεφάλαια (πέμπτο και έκτο) περιγράφεται, στο πρώτο, ο φωτοφυσικός χαρακτηρισμός των δύο νέων οργανικών χρωστικών, ΜΖ-173 και ΜΖ-175, της δομής D-π-Α, σε διάλυμα THF και σε στερεό υπόστρωμα TiO2 αντίστοιχα, το οποίο χρησιμοποιήθηκε ως το υπόστρωμα προσρόφησης των χρωστικών. Ακολούθως, μελετήθηκε η δυναμική και η απόδοση της έκχυσης των ηλεκτρονίων από τις χρωστικές αυτές προς το ημιαγώγιμο υπόστρωμα TiO2, με χρήση της τεχνικής της φασματοσκοπίας χρονικής ανάλυσης φθορισμού με παλμούς διάρκειας μερικών δεκάδων fs (femtosecond time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy). Ως δείγμα αναφοράς, για την εύρεση της απόδοσης της έκχυσης των ηλεκτρονίων στη ζώνη αγωγιμότητας του ημιαγωγού, χρησιμοποιήθηκε νανοκρυσταλλικό υπόστρωμα Al2O3. Τέλος, πραγματοποιήθηκε η μελέτη της δυναμικής της έκχυσης των ηλεκτρονίων με τη χρήση του μορίου CDCA, ως συνπροσροφητή στην επιφάνεια των υποστρωμάτων TiO2 και Al2O3, μαζί με χρωστική ΜΖ-173, σε διάφορες συγκεντρώσεις. Αυτή η μελέτη έγινε με σκοπό τη μείωση της συσσωμάτωσης των μορίων της χρωστικής, αφού το μόριο CDCA έχει την ιδιότητα, λόγω της δομής του, να κρατά σε απόσταση τα μόρια της χρωστικής. / Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted great scientific interest after the first demonstration of Grätzel and O’Regan in 1991. They were proposed as low cost alternatives to the conventional amorphous silicon solar cells. The key factors which led the scientific community to this direction are the simplicity of their fabrication procedures with mild chemical processes and their operation under ambient conditions of diffused light. Generally, a DSSC consists of a photoanode, a nanostructured metal oxide semiconducting film, a dye sensitizer, an electrolyte and a counter electrode which is usually coated with Pt. The fundamental process that takes place in a DSSC, after the absorption of a photon by the dye, is an interfacial electron transfer (IET) from the dye’s electronically excited state to the semiconductor’s conduction band (CB), taking place within a few hundred femtoseconds. The term which is generally used for this process in DSSCs is electron injection. Ultrafast fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy is one of the most precise and direct techniques for the study and interpretation of such phenomena. The main subject of this master thesis is the presentation of two novel synthesized organic dyes with D-π-A structure and their study as photosensitizers for DSSCs. It is focused on the photophycical properties of these two dyes in solution and on titanium dioxide (TiO2) substrate, which is used as the metal oxide semiconducting film, and especially on the dynamics of electron injection process from the dye’s excited state to the conduction band of the TiO2 with the aforementioned technique. Finally, the electron injection dynamics of one of dyes with coadsorption of co-adsorbers also investigated. This type of molecules can decrease the amount of aggregates penetrating among the dye molecules but on the same time they cause a decrease of the total amount of the adsorbed dye molecules.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Paper and Chemical Engineering, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-69).

Η διπλωματική μεταπτυχιακή εργασία ειδίκευσης παρουσιάζει μελέτη σε φωτοευαισθητοποιημένα ηλιακά κύτταρα, τα οποία μετατρέπουν την ηλιακή ακτινοβολία σε ηλεκτρική ενέργεια. Στο θεωρητικό μέρος παρουσιάζεται βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση των φωτοβολταϊκών κυττάρων και γίνεται εμβάθυνση στον μηχανισμό λειτουργίας των φωτοευαισθητοποιημένων ηλιακών κυττάρων με χρωστική ουσία (Dye-sensitized Solar Cells, DSSC). Αναλύονται τα υλικά που χρησιμοποιούνται για την σύνθεση του ηλιακού κυττάρου: υποστρώματα από Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO), υμένιο από νανο-κρυσταλλικό διοξείδιο του τιτανίου (TiO2), οργανικές χρωστικές ουσίες, υγρός/στερεός ηλεκτρολύτης ιωδίου και αντιηλεκτρόδιο. Επιπλέον, περιγράφονται πειραματικές διατάξεις από ελληνικά και διεθνή εργαστήρια τα οποία παρουσιάζουν τις νέες εξελίξεις στον τομέα των φωτοευαίσθητων φωτοβολταϊκών. Στο πειραματικό μέρος περιγράφεται η διαδικασία σύνθεσης φωτοευαίσθητων ηλιακών κυττάρων στο εργαστήριο. Γίνεται μελέτη των επιμέρους υλικών και σύνθεση νέων ηλιακών κυττάρων, έτσι ώστε να επιτευχθεί αύξηση της απόδοσης και της σταθερότητας των υποστρωμάτων τους. Σύμφωνα με την θεωρία Shockley–Queisser, η μέγιστη θεωρητική απόδοση ενός ηλιακού κυττάρου φτάνει το 30% και με επόμενες παρόμοιες μεθόδους υπολογίσθηκε ότι μπορεί να φτάσει το 68%. Παρουσιάζονται επιπλέον, πειραματικές διατάξεις με εφαρμογή χαμηλοδιάστατου ημιαγωγού, με σκοπό την αύξηση της απόδοσης και ταυτόχρονα την μείωση του υλικού και του κόστους του φωτοβολταϊκού. Η μελέτη και ο χαρακτηρισμός των επιμέρους υλικών έγινε με την χρήση τεχνικών οργάνων, όπως: XRD, UV, PL, SEM. Η μέτρηση της απόδοσης των ηλιακών κυττάρων πραγματοποιήθηκε σε εσωτερικό σκοτεινό χώρο με προσομοίωση του ηλιακού φωτός με την χρήση του ηλεκτρομέτρου και υπολογίστηκαν οι αποδόσεις των φωτοβολταϊκών κυττάρων. / The present master thesis presents a study on photo-sensitized solar cells, which convert solar radiation into electricity. The theoretical part includes a literature of relevant works on solar cells and a description of the operation mechanism of photo-sensitized solar cells using pigment (Dye-sensitized solar cells, DSSC). The materials used for the fabrication of solar cell were Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO) for the substrate, thin film from nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2), organic pigments, liquid/solid iodide electrolyte and counter electrode. In addition, testing devices and cell fabrication procedures, from national and international laboratories covering the developments in the field of photosensitive solar cells, are also included. In the experimental part, the procedure for the synthesis of photo-sensitized solar cells is extensively described. The used materials and the synthesis mode to achieve new cell types with increased efficiencies and substrate stability are presented. According to Shockley-Queisser theory, the theoretically maximum efficiency of solar cell is up to 30%, which in other methods it has been extended to 68%. In the same part, experimental procedures for other semiconductor application are additionally presented, aiming to a reduction in material and cost. The study and the characterization of the used materials were performed by using suitable equipment as XRD, UV, PL and SEM. The solar cell efficiency was measured in a dark room using electrometer and the efficiency were obtained.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / The electronic properties of push-pull substituted, zinc(II) (ZnPc), aluminum(III) (AlPc), and ruthenium(II) (RuPc), metal-phthalocyanine derivatives, presenting two electron donating groups (diethylamine) and two electron withdrawing groups (carboxylic) was studied using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) with B3LYP exchange-correlation functional in the vacuum and under the presence of solvent (DMSO), aiming their application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). For the excited states, the time-dependent approach of DFT (TD-DFT) was applied. In the transition for the excited state it was evidenced a charge transfer from donor to acceptor groups which results in large electronic rearrangement inducing the bathochromism when adding DMSO (a polar solvent). This electronic transfer is directed to the acceptor groups (benzoic groups), mainly in RuPc molecule, which enables bigger probability in the electronic injection into the semiconductor s conduction band. HOMO s energy to the ZnPc and AlPc are sufficiently below the redox potential of the electrolyte and LUMO s energy, in all compounds, is above the conduction band of the oxide. Those push-pull molecules present panchromism, important for the application of these compounds in DSSC since they can absorb photons in a large range of energies. NBO analysis suggests that the ruthenium presents strong coordination with the nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle, which allows a larger participation of this metal in the electronic transition. The ionization energy and electron affinity were calculated aiming to quantify the energetic barrier in the electron gain / loss. / As propriedades eletrônicas de derivados de ftalocianinas metaladas push-pull de zinco(II) (FtZn), alumínio(III) (FtAl) e rutênio(II) (FtRu) apresentando dois grupos doadores de elétrons (N,N-dietilanilina) e dois grupos retiradores de elétrons (ácido benzóico), foram estudadas usando a teoria do funcional de densidade (DFT) com o funcional híbrido B3LYP na presença do solvente (DMSO) e no vácuo, visando sua aplicação em células solares sensibilizadas por corante (CSSC). Para a descrição dos estados excitados usou-se a extensão dependente do tempo da DFT (TD-DFT). Na transição para o estado excitado destes compostos há uma transferência de carga dos grupos doadores para os grupos aceptores, que resulta em rearranjo eletrônico induzindo o efeito batocrômico observado com a adição de DMSO. Essa transferência eletrônica está direcionada para o grupo aceptor (grupo benzóico), principalmente na FtRu, que possibilita uma maior probabilidade na injeção eletrônica na banda de condução do semicondutor. A energia do HOMO para a FtZn e FtAl estão suficientemente abaixo do potencial redox do eletrólito e o LUMO, em todos os compostos, está acima da banda de condução do TiO2. Essas moléculas push-pull apresentam pancromismo, importante para a aplicação destes compostos em CSSC uma vez que podem absorver fótons de diferentes energias. Análises NBO sugerem que o rutênio apresenta forte coordenação com os nitrogênios do macrociclo que possibilita grande participação deste metal nestas transições eletrônicas. As energias de ionização e eletroafinidades foram calculadas com o objetivo de quantificar a barreira energética no ganho/perda de um elétron. / Mestre em Química

Semiconductor nanostructures have attracted considerable research interest due to their unique physical and chemical properties at nanoscale which open new frontiers for applications in electronics and sensing. Zinc oxide nanostructures with a wide range of applications, especially in optoelectronic devices and bio sensing, have been the focus of research over the past few decades. However ZnO nanostructures have failed to penetrate the market as they were expected to, a few years ago. The two main reasons widely recognized as bottleneck for ZnO nanostructures are (1) Synthesis technique which is fast, economical, and environmentally benign which would allow the growth on arbitrary substrates and (2) Difficulty in producing stable p-type doping. The main objective of this research work is to address these two bottlenecks and find a solution that is inexpensive, environmentally benign and CMOS compatible. To achieve this, we developed a Sonochemical method to synthesize 1D ZnO Nanorods, core-shell nanorods, 2D nanowalls and nanoflakes on arbitrary substrates which is a rapid, inexpensive, CMOS compatible and environmentally benign method and allows us to grow ZnO nanostructures on any arbitrary substrate at ambient conditions while most other popular methods used are either very slow or involve extreme conditions such as high temperatures and low pressure. A stable, reproducible p-type doping in ZnO is one of the most sought out application in the field of optoelectronics. Here in this project, we doped ZnO nanostructures using sonochemical method to achieve a stable and reproducible doping in ZnO. We have fabricated a homogeneous ZnO radial p-n junction by growing a p-type shell around an n-type core in a controlled way using the sonochemical synthesis method to realize ZnO homogeneous core-shell radial p-n junction for UV detection. ZnO has a wide range of applications from sensing to energy harvesting. In this work, we demonstrate the successful fabrication of an electrochemical immunosensor using ZnO nanoflakes to detect Cortisol and compare their performance with that of ZnO nanorods. We have explored the use of ZnO nanorods in energy harvesting in the form of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) and Perovskite Solar Cells.