Characterization of Low Temperature Soluble Polyaniline

Because the charging of polyaniline films occurs in the bulk of the material rather than exclusively at the polymer-electrolyte interface, the use of thick polymer films for battery applications is justifiable. Here, we present a method for producing soluble polyaniline which can be cast to form free-standing films. Investigation by scanning electron microsopy (SEM) has shown that these films are significantly more compact than those made by standard electropolymerization

Molecular Photovoltaics and Nanocrystalline Junctions

Photosensitization of wide-band-gap semiconductors is a promising low-cost photovoltaic technology. We present herein recent advances in photovoltaic devices and related technologies which have been achieved at the Laboratory for Photonics and Interfaces of the EPFL. New photosensitizing molecules have been developed which exhibit an increased spectral response. Semiconductor oxide nanoparticles used in the formation of thin-film photoelectrodes self-organize in a cubic array. Additionally, prototypes of small devices powered by dye-sensitized photovoltaic devices are now appearing

Photovoltaic cells for sustainable energy

Incident solar radiation is the most fundamental of the sustainable energy sources, being at the origin of all others - wind and wave, biomass and even fossil fuels which represent stored solar energy over a geological time scale. Only nuclear and geothermal sources are non-solar. The direct conversion of incident solar radiation into the most convenient energy vector, electricity, motivates the development of lower cost, higher efficiency and larger area photovoltaic devices and systems. Their history, technology and applications are here reviewed

Catalysis in Solid-State Ionics

With the solid oxide-fuel cell, a technology exploiting ionic conductivity in electroceramic materials, small-scale co-generation plants for combined production of heat and electricity can achieve clean high-efficiency operation. However, with thermal activation of the cell chemistry, extremely high operating temperatures, about 1000°, are required, conditions incompatible with long term reliability using conventional structural materials. Lower-temperature operation depends decisively on the application of electrocatalysis at interfaces to the ceramic electrolyte