Project Type MQP Submission date 2011-04-28 Authors Nathan Taylor Nesbitt, PH Daniel Thomas Nuzzo-Mueller, PH URN E-project-042811-090621 Title Enhancing Organic Photovoltaics with Gold Nano-Particles Advisors Lambert, Christopher R., BEI Burnham, Nancy A., PH Availability unrestricted Abstract
Thin-film organic solar cells offer an inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to semiconductor solar cells. Despite potentially high quantum efficiency, thin-film cells have low light-absorption compared to semiconductor variants. To increase absorption we deposited gold nano-particles onto the thin-film substrates, increasing the surface area for light harvesting molecules. Photocurrent measurements taken with a lock-in amplifier increased by approximately 50% with addition of the nano-particles. Such improvements could make photovoltaics more cost competitive with fossil fuels and help mitigate climate change.
Files Complete_Paper_Rev_10-2.pdf
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