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Multifunctional Fiber Solar Cell Based on TiO2 Composite Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 August 2011

Adam Rice ,
Seong-Ku Kim ,
Zuki Tanaka ,
Dibya Phuyal ,
Xuan Yang ,
Claire Gu ,
Qibing Pei  and
Bin Chen
Adam Rice
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 NASA Research Fellowship Program
Seong-Ku Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, CA 95064
Zuki Tanaka
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 NASA Research Fellowship Program Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA [email protected], 650 6040310
Dibya Phuyal
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, CA 95064
Xuan Yang
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA [email protected], 650 6040310
Claire Gu
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA [email protected], 650 6040310
Qibing Pei
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, CA 95064
Bin Chen
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA [email protected], 650 6040310
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Abstract

The paper present a multimode optical fiber based solar lighting and photovoltaic multifunctional device. TiO2, PbS and conducting polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) were coated on the optical core surface as active photovoltaic layers, with ITO and LiF/Al electrodes. The guided sunlight in the multi-moded fiber was totally internal reflected depending on the incident angle and the evanescent light mode from scattered radiation of light was absorbed by the active layer to generate the electric current. The optical-electrical behaviors such as the short circuit current, filling factor, and open circuit voltage were studied. Furthermore, optical loss and the evanescent field at the interface between the optical fiber core and ITO electrode thin layer was discussed in relation to the coupling light from the guiding medium to the devices. Comparison studies of chemical and physical thin film coating on optical fibers are discussed. In particular, we obtained in situ growth of quantum dot, composite electrolyte and plasmonic enhancement on TiO2. We have demonstrated waveguide like fiber device with photo current measurements and I-V characterizations. Furthermore, we have optimized the device transmission of visible light through total internal reflection, and PV conversion of evanescent light absorbed by solar active composite materials fabricated around optical fibers.

Keywords

compositenanostructurephotovoltaic
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1325: Symposium E – Energy Harvesting—Recent Advances in Materials, Devices and Applications , 2011 , mrss11-1325-e05-06
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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