Integration of biological photonic crystals in dye-sensitized solar cells for enhanced photocurrent generation

Jeremy Campbell; Greg Rorrer

doi:10.1117/12.2024520

1 October 2013 Integration of biological photonic crystals in dye-sensitized solar cells for enhanced photocurrent generation

Jeremy Campbell, Greg Rorrer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8817, Nanobiosystems: Processing, Characterization, and Applications VI; 88170Q (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2024520
Event: SPIE NanoScience + Engineering, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) rely on a network of titanium dioxide nanoparticles for electron transport and must balance carrier generation and collection. Adding photonic structures may increase light capture without affecting carrier collection. Diatoms are single-celled algae that biologically fabricate silicon dioxide cell walls which resemble photonic crystal slabs. We present a simple fabrication strategy that allows for uniform and controlled placement of biosilica within DSSCs. Integration of biosilica reduces photoanode transmittance to less than 5% prior to dye sensitization at loading levels as low as 6 wt% biosilica. Increased biosilica loading (17 wt%) provides additional enhancements in photocurrent generation. Reflectance measurements suggest that the enhancement results from the combined effects of photonic resonance and Mie scattering. Overall efficiency of these devices is improved by 8% and 14%, respectively.

Citation Download Citation

Jeremy Campbell and Greg Rorrer "Integration of biological photonic crystals in dye-sensitized solar cells for enhanced photocurrent generation", Proc. SPIE 8817, Nanobiosystems: Processing, Characterization, and Applications VI, 88170Q (1 October 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2024520

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Reflectivity

Dye sensitized solar cells

Titanium dioxide

Transmittance

Nanoparticles

Photonic crystals

Control systems

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years