Time-evolution of poly(3-hexylthiophene) as an energy relay dye in dye-sensitized solar cells

Nicola Humphry-Baker; Kristina Driscoll; Akshay Rao; Tomas Torres; Henry J Snaith; Richard H Friend

doi:10.1021/nl203377r

Time-evolution of poly(3-hexylthiophene) as an energy relay dye in dye-sensitized solar cells

Nano Lett. 2012 Feb 8;12(2):634-9. doi: 10.1021/nl203377r. Epub 2012 Jan 13.

Authors

Nicola Humphry-Baker¹, Kristina Driscoll, Akshay Rao, Tomas Torres, Henry J Snaith, Richard H Friend

Affiliation

¹ Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom.

PMID: 22208767
DOI: 10.1021/nl203377r

Abstract

Energy relay dyes (ERD) and Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) are useful techniques for increasing absorption in dye-sensitized solar cells. We use femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy to monitor charge generation processes in a solid-state DSC containing poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as both the hole-transporter and the ERD with a zinc phthalocyanine dye (TT1) as the sensitizer. We observe efficient FRET occurring on picosecond time scales and subsequent hole transfer from TT1 to P3HT occurring onward from 100 ps.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Electric Power Supplies
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
Molecular Structure
Solar Energy*
Thiophenes / chemistry*
Time Factors

Substances

Fluorescent Dyes
Thiophenes
poly(3-hexylthiophene)