Investigation of flow-limited field-injection electrostatic spraying for nanofabrication and direct-write patterning: Application to dye-sensitized solar cells

There is much interest in the development of technologies which can enhance the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), due to their promising efficiencies relative to the low cost of materials and manufacturing. Achieving high efficiency DSCs involves optimization of the absorption of light and transport of carriers in the active layers, which requires a precisely controlled nanostructure of the mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) electrode. This work concentrates on the investigation of flow-limited field-injection electrostatic spraying (FFESS) and its application in the advancement of dye-sensitized solar cell research. This includes a fundamental investigation of FFESS for patterning of DSC materials, and the generation and control of TiO2 nanostructures and composite electrodes using this process, which prove effective in improving DSC performance. In addition, a surface treatment of the DSC electrodes is performed to investigate the relationships between the performance and the morphology and surface chemistry of the TiO2, and their impact on fundamental transport phenomena.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Materials Science & Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Heil, Philip

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kim, Kyekyoon
• Choi, Hyungsoo
• Cahill, David G.
• Rockett, Angus A.
• Martin, Lane W.

• Dye-sensitized
• Solar cell
• Flow-limited field-injection electrostatic spraying (FFESS)
• Titanium dioxide (TiO2)
• Nanoparticle
• Nanofiber

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Philip Edward Heil

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34411

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/34411