Chemical Vapor Deposition Design and Synthesis of
Polymers for Alternative Energies
Kenneth K. S. Lau
The ability to harness the sun’s vast supply of energy will reduce our dependence on finite petroleum
resources. Yet photovoltaic cells that can efficiently harvest sunlight into useful electrical energy remain
elusive. Fundamental improvements in materials and methods are needed to realize a competitive solar
technology. In particular, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on nanocrystalline titanium dioxide
which rely on solid-state polymer electrolytes yield low power conversion efficiencies as a result of poor
filling of the mesoporous TiO2 network attributed to poor wettability of polymer sol-utions in liquid-based
processing. The objective of the proposed research is to develop hydrogel materials using initiated chemical
vapor deposition (iCVD) with the central hypothesis that iCVD is able to produce viable polymer
electrolyte systems that can completely and effectively fill the pores of the TiO2 network, and significantly
enhance DSSC efficiency. Based on supportive preliminary work, the rationale is that iCVD, as a
simultaneous polymerization and deposition technique, combines the strengths of materials design of
liquid-phase chemistries and nanoscale processing accessible in a low viscosity CVD environment, and
eliminates the problems associated with liquid-based processing. Successful completion of the proposed
work is expected to surmount a huge processing and materials hurdle that is critical in bringing significant
enhancements to DSSC performance. This will lead to further work in the optimization of the entire DSSC
system, with the ultimate goal of delivering effective solar cell technologies for a more sustainable future.