NANOTECHNOLOGY PROCESSES FOR SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• Objectives

The research is focused on photoactive materials (molecular and nanostructured), the investigation of nanotechnology driven photo-induced processes and their application to the direct conversion of solar energy into electricity as well as to environmental protection and health safety, including:

• Third Generation Photovoltaics [Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs); Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs); Quantum Dot Solar Cells (QDSCs)]
• Photocatalytic water cleaning and CO₂ conversion/storage

Third Generation Photovoltaics

This research activity concerns the harvesting of solar irradiation by panchromatic absorbers and the sensitization of nanostructured semiconductors in efficient solution processed photovoltaic devices. Particular effort is made on developing hybrid organic-inorganic (1D, 2D and 3D) perovskite (lead-based and lead-free) halides with powerful absorption in the visible spectrum and enhanced hole mobility, nanocomposite materials (powders, colloidal solutions) and thin films with optimum morphological characteristics (mainly high surface area) is searched via sol-gel chemistry. The research further aims at the manufacture and optimization of robust electrodes (photoactive and counter-) using various deposition techniques (screen-printing, doctor-blade, spin-coating, dip-coating) as well as the synthesis of new sensitizers (organic dyes, quantum dots). State of the art characterization is performed by combining microscopy (SEM, AFM), spectroscopy (micro-Raman, photoluminescence) and electrochemical techniques (EIS, IMPS, IMVS). Applied research is undertaken in collaboration with leading companies in the field on the development and optimization of the corresponding solar cells (Perovskite, Dye-sensitized, Quantum-dot) in terms of efficiency, stability and life time, including process engineering, interface tuning and accelerated aging stress tests.