IGERT: Nanostructured Solar Cells: Materials, Processes, and Devices
(DGE- 0903685)
Mary Berry, Stanley May, Ranjit Koodali, The University of South Dakota
David Galipeau, South Dakota State University
Jon Kellar, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
The South Dakota IGERT on Nanostructured Solar Cells engaged its first cohort of nine students
in Fall 2010. These students are part of a larger collaborative referred to as the Photo-Activated
Nanoscale Systems (PANS) group, who met in Chamberlain, SD in June 2010 to first launch the
IGERT program.
Collaboration is enhanced by student inter-campus, interdisciplinary lab
rotations. Students spend one semester in a collaborators laboratory working on
complementary aspects of their dissertation project.
Internships are provided through partnership with the National Center for
Photovoltaics (NREL), Covidien (Mallinckrodt-Baker), General Atomics, and
Radiance Corporation.
Rob Anderson from SDSM&T models up-conversion dynamics at USD.
Pans All Investigator Meeting , June 2010
Research is conducted within three interdisciplinary emphases:
•Emphasis #1: Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSC)
•Emphasis #2: Excitonic Solar Cells (ESC)
•Emphasis #3: Photoelectrochemical Cells (PEC)
IGERT student, Daren Davoux (SDSU, EE) intern with Radiance Technologies
Highly crystalline NaYF4:Yb, Er up-conversion nanocrystals in solution,
in monoliths, and as thin films.
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Group
Shared Coursework , Seminars, and Group Meetings are facilitated
through video conferencing on the Access Grid (AG).
Interaction with system end
user
SDSM&T
Deliverable: New type of excitonic cell capable of increased light
collection ability and novel charge transport materials.
SDSU
Educational Outreach: IGERT students design and execute educational
outreach projects under the umbrella of the Northern Plains Undergraduate
Research Center (NSF-URC), the Research Apprenticeship Program (NIHBRIN), or SDSU’s Success Academy.
USD
Systems
Galipeau
Research Iteration
Enabling
Technology
ESC Fabrication
Galipeau, Baroughi,
Bommisetty
Fundamental
Science
Solar Cell Characterization
System
Requirements
Research Iteration
Dye research:
• Synthesis of linked dyes
• Evaluation of dye molecules
Logue, Koodali,
He, Yan,
Hoefelmeyer, Qiao
Charge conductors:
• Hole transport materials.
• TiO2 fabrication
Organization plan for the DSSC group in the ESC emphasis.
Bulk Heterojunction with TiO2 Aerogels
600 nm
(a)
ITO
e-
600 nm
Bulk
Heterojunction
h+
Electron donator
& hole transporter
Electron acceptor
& electron transporter
Au
Preparation of nano-structured TiO2 for photoanodes
(b)
Ti(OC4H9)4/EtOH
(HOCH2CH2)2N
(b)
Ti(OC4H9)4/EtOH/(HOCH2CH2)2N
Microwave association
TiO2 sol-gel
Spin coating on ITO glass
Dried at 120 0C at vacuum
(or sintered at >400 0C)
Nanostructured TiO2 film
Transmittance (%)
PH 7.5 sol
600 nm
H2O
100
80
60
40
20
0
400
600
800
1000
Wavelength (nm)
(a) Pure TiO2 (b) CuPc/TiO2
600 nm
A DSSC project for phthalocyanine sensitization of high surface area TiO2
Schedule for upcoming AG Course Offerings
Spring 2011
Printed Electronics: Materials and Processes (SDSM&T)
Advanced Photovoltaics (SDSU)
Fall 2011
Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (SDSU)
Organic Electronics (SDSU)
Spring 2012
Advanced Photovoltaics (SDSU)
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanomaterials (USD)
Fall 2012
Luminescence of Materials (USD)
Spring 2013
Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (SDSU)
Fall 2013
Theory and Applications of Nanomaterials (SDSM&T)
Introduction to Research Workshop with students from Nebraska Indian Community College
Acknowledgement:
Thanks to NSF-IGERT, MRI, EPS, CHE(CRIF, URC, REU) for generous support for
educational programs, instrumentation, and research infrastructure.
Thanks to DoD and DOE and NSF for research support for the projects in which the IGERT
trainees are engaged.
Thanks to the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development for significant
investment in PANS/IGERT research infrastructure development.