Synthesis And Application In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Of Polythiophene Derivatives-Inorganic Nanocomposites

Conducting polymers with highly extended π-electron systems in their main chains have attracted much interest. Nanocomposites are formed from inorganic and intrinsically conducting polymers. Nanocomposites’original performance was improved because of the introduction of inorganic compound. Composite materials have better performance than single-component materials. These nanocomposites show new functions because of the effects of nanoparticles and the synergy between conducting polymers and inorganic compound. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted so much attention for their high efficiency, low-cost and flexible choices in varied and fine-tuned materials. A series of conducting polymer complexes of polythiophene derivatives and inorganic were synthesized. The structures were detected; the optical and electrical properties were characterized. The nanocomposites were applied in DSSCs first. The match of energy level between dye and TiO2photo anode were discussed. The main work is as follow:1. TiO2. ZnO and Fe2O3were prepared by the supercritical fluid drying (SCFD) method. CdS was prepared by the precipitation method.2.P3OT, P3DT, P3DDT and PMOT were synthesized by chemical oxidation and vacuum drying method.3. Composite materials P3OT/TiO2and P3DDT/TiO2were synthesized by ultrasound method. P3OT/TiO2, P3OT/ZnO, P3OT/Fe2O3, P3OT/CdS, P3OT/TiO2NTs, P3DT/TiO2, PMOT/TiO2and P3OT/Fe2O3/TiO2were synthesized by in-situ method. Some nanocomposites were applied in DSSCs as dye. The solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of DSSC based on composite is higher than that of single component.4. The modification of non-metallic elements N and S to nanocrystalline TiO2anode results in a strong redshift to the visible region occurred in the UV-visible spectrum(UV-vis). UV-vis shows that the light absorption of P3DT and N719are complementary to cover the entire visible region. Solar cell based on N-S/TiO2is co-sensitized by P3DT and N719. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of co-sensitized solar cell increases comparing with the single dye-sensitized solar cell.5. A series of nano-scaled Ag/TiO2and Pt/TiO2anode were prepared by photo deposition method. Deposition of Ag and Pt on TiO2surface can transmit the carriers produced by photo excited dye better than pure TiO2. This improved the electrons transmission efficiency of anode. Therefore, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was improved.