Abstract:
This study focuses on understanding the fundamentals of energy
transfer and electron transport in photovoltaic devices with
uniquely designed nanostructures by analysing energy transfer in
purple photosynthetic bacteria using dye-sensitised solar cell
systems. F€orster resonance energy transfer between the xanthene
dye (donor of energy) and a new polymethine dye (acceptor of
energy) was studied in dye-sensitised solar cells, which leads to a
doubling of energy conversion efficiency in comparison to the cell
with only the polymethine dye. The electron transport in the two
different nanostructures of zinc oxide (nanorods and nanosheets)
was investigated by spectroscopic methods (UV-vis spectrometer,
time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy) and
electrochemical potentiostat methods. The nanosheet structure of
zinc oxide showed high short circuit current and long diffusion
length. This fundamental study will lead to efficient artificial
photosystem designs.
