Carbon dots (CDs) are a relatively new class of carbon nanomaterial known for facile syntheses, low environmental and biological toxicity, and tunable intrinsic properties. To date, there have been a number of instances of CDs serving as low cost substitutes for metal nanoparticles or quantum dots in roles such as fluorescent probes as well as components in photovoltaics, mainly light sensitizers and charge transport materials. Due to their small size and superior water solubility, CDs are a favorable candidate for use in Photosystem I (PSI) based biohybrid photovoltaics. Traditionally these classes of photovoltaics suffer from unideal charge transport between electrodes and the terminal reaction centers stressing the need for biocompatible transport materials. Using a novel hydrothermal synthesis, a range of CDs and nitrogen doped CDs (NCDs) have been produced and shown to exhibit electrochemical properties dependent on the employed ratio of dopant to carbon source allowing them to energetically interface with a number of photovoltaic systems. Ultimately by choosing a class of CD whose oxidation and reduction potentials align with the energetic potentials of the terminal reaction centers of PSI, intermittent transport layers can be added to devices in order to enhance protein-electrode charge transport improving overall device performance.

Synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots as charge transport materials for photosystem I-based biohybrid photovoltaics

2019 Fall National Meeting

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