Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The initial charge transfer from dye molecules' excited states to the conduction band of
a semiconductor, after absorption of visible light by the former, is critical to the performance
of Dye sensitized Solar Cells (DSC). In a ZnO-based DSC sensitized by the organic
indoline derivative D149, the dynamics associated with charge transfer are investigated
with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The time-resolved measurement of
the photo-initiated processes reveal electron transfer rates corresponding to excited state
lifetimes of 100s of fs, consistent with previously measured high absorbed photon to current
conversion efficiencies. The photo-electrode measured as an isolated system shows
decay times of bound electrons in excited states of the dye to be ~150 fs and shows
the subsequent emergence of absorption bands of the oxidized molecules. When the
I-/I-3 redox couple is added to the system, these excited state lifetimes change and are
found to be dependent on the cation in the electrolytic solution. Small cations like Li+
reduce the excited state lifetime to sub-100 fs, whilst larger cations like the organic tetrabutylammonium
result in longer lifetimes of 240 fs. The action of the electrolyte can be
observed by the reduced lifetime of the oxidized dye molecules' absorption bands. The
effect of operating parameters and changes in the production protocol of the DSC on the
primary charge injection are also investigated and reported on. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aanvanklike ladingsoordrag vanuit kleurstofmolekules' opgewekte toestande tot in
die leidingsband van 'n halfgeleier, na absorpsie van sigbare lig deur eersgenoemde, is
van kritiese belang vir die uitset van halfgeleier-gebaseerde sonkragselle wat met kleurstowwe
vir absorpsie verhoging, gebind is. In hierdie werk word hierdie proses en verwante
fotodinamika in die geval van 'n ZnO sonkragsel gekleur met indolien D149 ondersoek
d.m.v femtosekonde-tydopgelosde absorpsiespektroskopie. Hierdie metings onthul
elektron-oordragstempos wat ooreenstem met lewenstye van opgewekte toestande in die
orde van 100 fs. Hierdie is met voorheen-bepaalde hoë foton-tot-stroom omskakelingsdoeltreffendheid ooreenkomstig. Die foto-elektrode, as geïsoleerde sisteem beskou, toon
afvalstye van gebonde elektrone in opgewekte toestande van ~150 fs, en die gevolglike opkoms
van absorpsie deur geoksideerde molekules word waargeneem. As die I-/I-3 redoks
oplossing tot die sisteem bygevoeg word, verander die opgewekte toestande se afvalstye en
toon 'n katioon-afhanklikheid. Klein katioone soos Li+ verkort die afvalstye tot onder 100
fs, terwyl groter katioone soos die organiese tetra-butielammonium langer afvalstye (240
fs) tot gevolg het. Die werking van die elektrolitiese oplossing kan waargeneem word deur
die verkorte lewenstyd van die absorpsiebande wat aan die geoksideerde molekules toegeken
is. Die uitwerking van operasionele parameter asook veranderinge in die produksie
protokol op die primêre ladingsoordrag word ondersoek en verslag daarop word gelewer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86444 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Rohwer, Egmont Johann |
| Contributors | Schwoerer, Heinrich, Schlettwein, Derck, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiv, 62 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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