Solar to electric energy conversion device

Abstract

The present invention features a solar-to-electric energy conversion device based on a light absorbing electrode coupled to a one-dimensional nanoparticle based photonic crystal. The function of the latter is to localize the incident light within the electrode thus enhancing the optical absorption and the power conversion efficiency of the so called dye-sensitized and organic (polymer based or hybrids) cell. The photonic crystal comprises alternating layers possessing different index of refraction and can be easily integrated into the cell.

1 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device characterised by:
 a) depositing a layer of a nanocrystalline semi-conducting compound on a transparent conducting substrate;   b) preparing suspensions of nanoparticles in liquid media;   c) depositing a porous multilayer having photonic crystal properties on the semi-conducting layer, forming a structure of alternated nanoparticle layers of controlled thickness, so that a periodic or quasi-periodic spatial modulation of a refractive index across the multilayer is achieved;   d) heating the structure to a temperature between 100° C. and 550° C.   e) sensitising the structure with a dye, by immersing the structure in a solution of the dye;   f) preparing a counter-electrode   g) sealing the electrode and counterelectrode, thus forming a cell, infiltrating the space between them with a conducting electrolyte that may be liquid or solid.   
     
     
         2 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 1  characterised by that the steps e) and g) are replaced with steps
 e′) infiltrating the structure with a conducting polymer, and 
 g′) sealing the electrode and counterelectrode, thus forming a cell. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , characterised by that the solar to electric energy device is a dye-sensitized solar cell. 
     
     
         4 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device, said device being hybrid solar cell characterised by:
 A) depositing a layer of a nanocrystalline semi-conducting compound on a transparent conducting substrate;   B) preparing different suspensions of nanoparticles in liquid media;   C) depositing a multilayer having high porosity and photonic crystal properties on the semi-conducting layer, thus forming a structure of alternated nanoparticle layers of controlled thickness, so that a periodic or quasi-periodic spatial modulation of a refractive index across the multilayer is achieved;   D) heating the structure to a temperature between 100° C. and 550° C.   E) infiltrating the structure with a conducting polymer;   F) preparing a counter-electrode;   G) sealing the electrode and counter electrode, thus forming the cell.   
     
     
         5 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device, said device being a polymer solar cell and characterised by:
 A′) depositing a layer of a hole conducting polymer compound on a transparent conducting substrate;   B′) depositing a layer of a conducting polymer compound or polymer-fullerene blend compound onto the previously deposited layer;   C′) preparing different suspensions of nanoparticles in liquid media;   D′) depositing a multilayer having high porosity and photonic crystal properties on the polymer or polymer-fullerene blend layer deposited in step (b), thus forming a structure of alternated nanoparticle layers of controlled thickness, so that a periodic or quasi-periodic spatial modulation of a refractive index across the multilayer is achieved;   E′) infiltrating the nanoparticle based multilayer with the same polymer or polymer-fullerene blend used in (b);   F′) preparing a counter-electrode that is in electrical contact with the polymer or polymer-fullerene blend used in (b), sealing the cell.   
     
     
         6 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 1 , characterised by that the different suspensions of nanoparticles employed present a different composition or similar composition but different particle size or aggregation state. 
     
     
         7 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 1 , characterised by that the suspensions of nanoparticles are suspensions selected among any of the following list of compounds either in its amorphous or its crystalline form: SiO 2 , TiO 2 , SnO 2 , ZnO, Nb 2 O 5 , CeO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , V 2 O 5 , Cr 2 O 3 , HfO 2 , MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Co 3 O 4 , NiO, Al 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , SnO 2 . CdS, CdSe, ZnS, ZnSe, Ni. Co, Fe, Ag. Au, Se, Si, and Ge. 
     
     
         8 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterised by that the multilayer is a deposited tandem porous multilayer structure having photonic crystal properties over a larger range of wavelengths on the semi-conducting layer, thus forming a structure of alternated nanoparticle layers of controlled thicknesses, so that regions of different periodicity of the refractive index are achieved. 
     
     
         9 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 1 , characterised by that the multilayer is deposited by doctor blade, dip coating, spin-coating, the Langmuir-Blodgett technique or by ink jet printing. 
     
     
         10 . A solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A solar to electric energy conversion device having a dye-sensitized nanocrystalline semi-conducting layer deposited on a transparent conducting substrate, immersed in an electrolyte, and sealed with a counter-electrode for forming the device, characterised by a one-dimensional nanoparticle based photonic crystal formed by alternating layers having different index of refraction deposited onto the nanocrystalline semiconducting layer. 
     
     
         12 . A solar to electric energy conversion device having a nanocrystalline semi-conducting layer deposited on a transparent conducting substrate and infiltrated with a conducting polymer, and sealed with a counter-electrode for forming the cell, characterised by a one-dimensional nanoparticle based photonic crystal, also infiltrated with a conducting polymer, formed by alternating layers having different index of refraction deposited onto the nanocrystalline semiconducting layer. 
     
     
         13 . A solar to electric energy conversion device having a polymer hole-conducting layer deposited on a transparent conducting substrate, a layer of a different conducting polymer or polymer-fullerene blend deposited onto the first layer, characterised by a nanoparticle based periodic multilayer with photonic crystal properties deposited onto the second layer and infiltrated with a the conducting polymer compound or polymer-fullerene blend compound used to form the second layer, and sealed with a counter-electrode for forming the cell. 
     
     
         14 . A solar to electric energy conversion device having a dye-sensitized nanocrystalline semi-conducting layer deposited on a transparent conducting substrate, immersed in an electrolyte, and sealed with a counter-electrode for forming the cell, characterised by a tandem multilayer structure made of alternated nanoparticle layers of controlled thicknesses, so that regions of different periodicity of the refractive index are achieved. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , characterised by that the solar to electric energy device is a dye-sensitized solar cell. 
     
     
         16 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 2 , characterised by that the different suspensions of nanoparticles employed present a different composition or similar composition but different particle size or aggregation state. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 3 , characterised by that the different suspensions of nanoparticles employed present a different composition or similar composition but different particle size or aggregation state. 
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 3 , characterised by that the different suspensions of nanoparticles employed present a different composition or similar composition but different particle size or aggregation state. 
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 4 , characterised by that the different suspensions of nanoparticles employed present a different composition or similar composition but different particle size or aggregation state. 
     
     
         20 . A method for manufacturing a solar to electric energy conversion device in accordance with  claim 2 , characterised by that the suspensions of nanoparticles are suspensions selected among any of the following list of compounds either in its amorphous or its crystalline form: SiO 2 , TiO 2 , SnO 2 , ZnO, Nb 2 O 5 , CeO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , V 2 O 5 , Cr 2 O 3 , HfO 2 , MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Co 3 O 4 , NiO, Al 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , SnO 2 . CdS, CdSe, ZnS, ZnSe, Ni. Co, Fe, Ag. Au, Se, Si, and Ge.