Excitonic solar cells typically utilize photosensitizing agents (conjugated polymers, molecular dyes) that act as electron donating agents, often with n-type oxide semiconductors as the electron accepting component.   Donor-sensitizers alternate between neutral and cationic states within the normal photoelectrochemical processes of the devices.  We present results from the examination of organic acceptor-photosensitizers that preferentially alternate between neutral and anionic states.  The use of acenequinones, modified fullerenes, and other acceptor-dyes at the surface of an n-type oxide semiconductor profoundly alters the paradigm of photosensitization in terms of the sequence, location, and kinetic constraints of key electron transfer events.  Charge-transfer surface dipoles are considered for their ability to modulate the effective work function of an oxide semiconductor and thereby alter the maximum available open-circuit voltage of a given solar cell.  We present results comparing donor-sensitizers and acceptor-sensitizers across different device types (liquid junction and solid state) and different oxide semiconductors.

Acceptor-sensitized excitonic solar cells

245th National Meeting (2013)

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