Three-dimensional nanotube arrays for solar energy harvesting and production of solar fuels

<p>"Over the past decade extensive research has been carried out on photovoltaic semiconductors to provide a solution towards a renewable energy future. Fabricating high-efficiency photovoltaic devices largely rely on nanostructuring the photoabsorber layers due to the ability of improving photoabsorption, photocurrent generation and transport in nanometer scale. Vertically aligned, highly uniform nanorods and nanowire arrays for solar energy conversion have been explored as potential candidates for solar energy conversion and solar-fuel generation owing to their enhanced photoconversion efficiencies.</p><p>However, controlled fabrication of nanorod and especially nanotube arrays with uniform size and shape and a pre-determined distribution density is still a significant challenge. In this research work, we demonstrate how to address this issue by fabricating nanotube arrays by confined electrodeposition on lithographically patterned nanoelectrodes defined through electron beam as well as nanosphere photolithography. This simple technique can lay a strong foundation for the study of novel photovoltaic devices because successful fabrication of these devices will enhance the ability to control structure-property relationships. The nanotube patterns fabricated by this method could produce an equivalent amount of photocurrent density produced by a thin film like device while having less than 10% of semiconducting material coverage. This project also focused on solar fuel generation through photoelectrocatalytic water splitting for which efficient electrocatalysts were developed from non-precious elements. Lastly, a protocol was developed to disperse these electrocatalysts into a butadiene based polymeric catalytic ink and further processing to yield free-standing catalytic film applicable for water electrolysis”--Abstract, page iv.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D. in Chemistry

Grantor

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Author dc:creator

• Liyanage, Wipula P. R.

• CdTe
• Nanofabrication
• Nanotube Arrays
• Nanowire Solar Cells
• Photovoltaics
• Solar Cells
• CdTe nanorods
• Patterned growth
• Nanorod arrays
• Photovoltaic
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Materials Science and Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/doctoral_dissertations/3103

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsmine.mst.edu:doctoral_dissertations-4108