Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-lpg2g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-15T19:52:24.273Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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 94035NASA 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 94035NASA Research Fellowship ProgramDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA 90095 Bin.Chen-1@nasa.gov, 650 6040310
Dibya Phuyal
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, CA 95064
Xuan Yang
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA 90095 Bin.Chen-1@nasa.gov, 650 6040310
Claire Gu
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA 90095 Bin.Chen-1@nasa.gov, 650 6040310
Qibing Pei
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, CA 95064
Bin Chen
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, CA 90095 Bin.Chen-1@nasa.gov, 650 6040310
Get access

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

1. Guchhait, A., Rath, A. K., Pal, A. J., “Near-IR Activity of Hybrid Solar Cells: Enhancement of Efficiency by Dissociating Excitons Generated in PbS 2 Nanoparticles,” Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 96, No. 7, 18 Feb. 2010, pp. 1872, 1873.Google Scholar
2. Ewa, Klimiec, Wiesław, Zaraska, Krzysztof, Zaraska, Kazimierz P, Gasiorski., Tadeusz, Sadowski, Michał, Pajda, Piezoelectric polymer films as power converters for human powered electronics . Microelectronics Reliability 48 (2008) 897–901.Google Scholar
3. Ratanatawanate, C., Chunrong, X., Balkus, K. J. Jr., “Fabrication of PbS Quantum Dot Doped TiO2 Nanotubes,” ACS Nano, Vol. 2, No. 8, 6 Aug. 2008, pp. 1682–1688.Google Scholar
4. Sargent, E. H., et al. , “Depleted-Heterojunction Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells,” ACS Nano, Vol. 4, No. 6, 24 May 2010, pp., 3374–3380.Google Scholar