Advanced Materials for Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting

Design of novel materials is the key to ground breaking advancements in energy conversion. Solar radiation is a clean energy source with low environment impact but is still a difficult technology to be implemented on a large scale because of being an expensive technology. If global demands are to be met, new classes of solar cells with increased efficiency, reduced cost and new form factors must be developed. A lot of research is ongoing to find efficient materials which can supplement or supersede the existing silicon technology. In this review a general introduction covers the current scenario of energy demands of the world and where we stand in the search for alternative energy resources. A brief look into the working of photovoltaic systems and the conditions required to fabricate an ideal solar cell follows. Some of the advanced systems incorporated in solar cells over the past 20 years

Scalable and sustainable manufacturing of ultrathin metal–organic framework nanosheets (MONs) for solar cell applications

Metal-organic framework nanosheets (MONs) are an emerging class of 2D materials whose tunable chemistry make them ideal for a wide range of sensing, catalytic, electronics and separation applications. However, creating scalable routes to the synthesis of high quality, ultrathin nanosheets remains challenging and little consideration has been given to the economics of making these materials. Here, we demonstrate a scalable synthesis of zinc-porphyrin based nanosheets, Zn2(H2TCPP), for use in organic solar cells and conduct a techno-economic analysis of their pilot-plant scale manufacture. A thorough investigation of the process chemistry of the solvothermal synthesis enabled reduction of reaction time, increased solid content and scale-up of the reaction in batch. Significantly, the addition of triethylamine accelerated the reaction kinetics, which enabled the synthesis temperature to be dropped from > 80 °C to room temperature. Application of these new reaction conditions in a continuous stirred-tank reactor directly formed monolayer MONs at 99 % yield with a space–time yield of 16 kg m−3 day−1, an approximately 20-fold increase in yield compared to adapting the literature procedure. Techno-economic analysis showed a 94 % reduction in the production costs compared to the literature reaction conditions and indicated that the production cost was dominated by ligand price. The general applicability of the method was demonstrated through synthesis of related Cu2(H2TCPP) MONs and tunability through metalation of the porphyrin units with six different metal ions. Finally, the value of the nanosheets was demonstrated through a near doubling in the power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices when the MONs were incorporated into the active layer. Overall, this work demonstrates the first scalable and sustainable route to producing monolayer nanosheets for high value applications

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

Ambient energy harvesting has great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address growing environmental challenges. Converting waste energy from energy-intensive processes and systems (e.g. combustion engines and furnaces) is crucial to reducing their environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions. Compact energy harvesters will also be key to powering the exponentially growing smart devices ecosystem that is part of the Internet of Things, thus enabling futuristic applications that can improve our quality of life (e.g. smart homes, smart cities, smart manufacturing, and smart healthcare). To achieve these goals, innovative materials are needed to efficiently convert ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms, such as the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency wireless power transfer. By bringing together the perspectives of experts in various types of energy harvesting materials, this Roadmap provides extensive insights into recent advances and present challenges in the field. Additionally, the Roadmap analyses the key performance metrics of these technologies in relation to their ultimate energy conversion limits. Building on these insights, the Roadmap outlines promising directions for future research to fully harness the potential of energy harvesting materials for green energy anytime, anywhere

Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets: A New Dimension in Photovoltaics Research

In recent years, metal-organic framework nanosheets (MONs) have emerged as novel two-dimensional materials with enormous potential for use in advanced electronic devices. MONs comprise of organic linkers that are linked with metal ions or clusters in two-dimensions. They are most notable for their high surface area, nanoscopic dimensions, physical flexibility, and diverse chemical functionalities. With their modular design, MONs can be systematically modified through substitution of different ligands and metal ions which allows for systematic tuning of their optoelectronic properties. In this thesis, MONs are explored as potential materials for enhancing the performance of a range of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Chapter 1 introduces photovoltaics, outlining the background theory of OPVs, their performance mechanism and provides an overview of the progress in ternary OPVs. Chapter 2 is an introduction to MONs, detailing their structure, synthesis, and applications in electronics. This chapter also covers the aims and objectives of this thesis. Chapter 3 is the experimental methods chapter. In Chapter 4, Zn2(ZnTCPP) MONs (where TCPP = tetracarboxyphenyl porphyrin) were synthesised using liquid exfoliation. The MONs were found to approach monolayer thicknesses and their optoelectronic properties were found to be ideally suited for incorporation into the active layer a polythiophene-fullerene based OPVs. P3HT-MON-PCBM ternary blend bulk heterojunctions were therefore developed. Upon optimisation, the ternary OPV devices were found to outperform the reference devices with the champion MON devices at 5.2% PCE as compared to the references at 2.6%. Detailed mechanistic investigations were carried out to probe their performance enhancement. The incorporation of MONs was found to lead to creation of highly crystalline P3HT domains in the films, which resulted in improved light absorption, higher hole mobility and reduced grain sizes. This work provides the first example of incorporation of MONs into the active layer of an OPV device and demonstrates their potential as additives for enhancing the performance of OPVs. In Chapter 5 the effect of different metal ions and ligands on the energy level alignment of MONs was explored. The aim was to identify the key structural and electronic features that should be considered while designing MONs for OPV applications. Upon comparing Cu2(CuTCPP) and Cu2(ZnTPyP), (where TCPP = tetracarboxyphenyl porphyrin and TPyP = tetraphenyl porphyrin) as additives in P3HT-PCBM system, the device performance doubled with Zn2(ZnTCPP), remained unaffected with Cu2(ZnTPyP) and halved with Cu2(CuTCPP). The energy level alignment in different systems was evaluated using photoemission techniques. The choice of metal ions was found to only have a small impact on the ionization energies of the MON and was not sufficient to explain the variations in device performances observed. The size of the nanosheets was found to play a significant role in influencing the device performance. Large sized nanosheets were detrimental to the power conversion efficiencies because they reduce the interface between the donor P3HT and acceptor PCBM. This work identified the key structural and electronic features to be considered while choosing MONs for OPV applications. In Chapter 6 the general applicability of MONs to other donor-acceptor OPV systems is investigated. A range of commonly used polymer-fullerene devices were selected ranging from fully amorphous to fully crystalline systems. The addition of MONs to devices based on fully crystalline or amorphous donor polymers showed only small or non-significant improvements in their PCE upon incorporation of MONs. In contrast, the addition of MONs to semi-crystalline polymers showed remarkable improvements in performance. In particular, the PCE of PffBT4T-2OD-PCBM based devices increased from 10.6% to 12.23 % with the inclusion of MONs resulting in the best performing fullerene based OPV reported so far. Detailed mechanistic investigations of these devices showed that MONs promote a higher degree of crystallinity in the films by forcing a more face-on orientation of the polymer chains. This favours the charge transport direction resulting in higher charge mobilities, better light absorption and smaller well-defined grain sizes. This study not only demonstrates the general applicability of MONs as templates for semi-crystalline polymers but also offers important insights towards improving the nanoscale morphology in OPVs. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the application of MONs in OPVs as additives for improved device performance. In addition to enhancing absorption and acting as electron donors within OPV devices, MONs can act as templates that improve the morphology of semi-crystalline polymers resulting in significant improvements in performance. Matching the energy levels of the MONs to the OPV devices and optimising exfoliation to ensure monolayer nanosheets are used are key to designing MONs for thin-film OPV applications. With their tuneable properties and nanoscopic dimensions, MONs therefore have significant potential to enhance the performance of a wide range of organic electronic devices

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

Ambient energy harvesting has great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address growing environmental challenges. Converting waste energy from energy-intensive processes and systems (e.g. combustion engines and furnaces) is crucial to reducing their environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions. Compact energy harvesters will also be key to powering the exponentially growing smart devices ecosystem that is part of the Internet of Things, thus enabling futuristic applications that can improve our quality of life (e.g. smart homes, smart cities, smart manufacturing, and smart healthcare). To achieve these goals, innovative materials are needed to efficiently convert ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms, such as the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency wireless power transfer. By bringing together the perspectives of experts in various types of energy harvesting materials, this Roadmap provides extensive insights into recent advances and present challenges in the field. Additionally, the Roadmap analyses the key performance metrics of these technologies in relation to their ultimate energy conversion limits. Building on these insights, the Roadmap outlines promising directions for future research to fully harness the potential of energy harvesting materials for green energy anytime, anywhere

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

Ambient energy harvesting has great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address growing environmental challenges. Converting waste energy from energy-intensive processes and systems (e.g. combustion engines and furnaces) is crucial to reducing their environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions. Compact energy harvesters will also be key to powering the exponentially growing smart devices ecosystem that is part of the Internet of Things, thus enabling futuristic applications that can improve our quality of life (e.g. smart homes, smart cities, smart manufacturing, and smart healthcare). To achieve these goals, innovative materials are needed to efficiently convert ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms, such as the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency wireless power transfer. By bringing together the perspectives of experts in various types of energy harvesting materials, this Roadmap provides extensive insights into recent advances and present challenges in the field. Additionally, the Roadmap analyses the key performance metrics of these technologies in relation to their ultimate energy conversion limits. Building on these insights, the Roadmap outlines promising directions for future research to fully harness the potential of energy harvesting materials for green energy anytime, anywhere.M C thanks the Centre Québécois sur les Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF, a Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies strategic network) and A L thanks the Canada Research Chairs program for financial support. G C W thanks the University of Calgary. This work was authored in part by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 with writing support for BWL by ARPA-E DIFFERENTIATE program under Grant No. DE-AR0001215. The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government.Peer reviewe

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

Funder: Fundação para a Ciência e TecnologiaFunder: BIDEKO ProjectFunder: MCIN/AEIFunder: Spanish State Research Agency (AEI)Funder: Basic Science Research ProgramFunder: Ministry of Education; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002701Funder: Swedish Knowledge FoundationFunder: University of Calgary; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008459Funder: National Renewable Energy Laboratory; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100006233Funder: Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003151Funder: Canada Research Chairs programFunder: EUFunder: National Research Foundation of Korea; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003725Funder: NRFFunder: Priority Research Centers ProgramFunder: European regional development fund (ERDF)Funder: European Research Council (ERC)Funder: ERCFunder: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLCFunder: MIURFunder: Italian MinistryFunder: the Cardiff University, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilFunder: JST Mirai ProgramFunder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)Funder: A*STARFunder: JSTFunder: PRESTOFunder: Aerospace ProgrammeFunder: EBFunder: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and TechnologyFunder: Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD)Funder: Sandia, LLCFunder: the Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy SciencesFunder: United States GovernmentFunder: Honeywell International Inc.Funder: The Leverhulme TrustFunder: Royal Academy of Engineering; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000287Funder: Office of the Chief Science Adviser for National SecurityFunder: Henry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceFunder: Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Los AngelesFunder: CRESTFunder: Beijing Forestry University; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100012138Funder: Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)Funder: the Australian Research Council, QUTFunder: Center for Hierarchical Materials DesignFunder: Austrian Christian Doppler Laboratory for ThermoelectricityFunder: HBIS-UQ Innovation Centre for Sustainable SteelAbstract Ambient energy harvesting has great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address growing environmental challenges. Converting waste energy from energy-intensive processes and systems (e.g. combustion engines and furnaces) is crucial to reducing their environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions. Compact energy harvesters will also be key to powering the exponentially growing smart devices ecosystem that is part of the Internet of Things, thus enabling futuristic applications that can improve our quality of life (e.g. smart homes, smart cities, smart manufacturing, and smart healthcare). To achieve these goals, innovative materials are needed to efficiently convert ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms, such as the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency wireless power transfer. By bringing together the perspectives of experts in various types of energy harvesting materials, this Roadmap provides extensive insights into recent advances and present challenges in the field. Additionally, the Roadmap analyses the key performance metrics of these technologies in relation to their ultimate energy conversion limits. Building on these insights, the Roadmap outlines promising directions for future research to fully harness the potential of energy harvesting materials for green energy anytime, anywhere.</jats:p

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

Funder: Fundação para a Ciência e TecnologiaFunder: BIDEKO ProjectFunder: MCIN/AEIFunder: Spanish State Research Agency (AEI)Funder: Basic Science Research ProgramFunder: Ministry of Education; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002701Funder: Swedish Knowledge FoundationFunder: University of Calgary; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008459Funder: National Renewable Energy Laboratory; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100006233Funder: Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003151Funder: Canada Research Chairs programFunder: EUFunder: National Research Foundation of Korea; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003725Funder: NRFFunder: Priority Research Centers ProgramFunder: European regional development fund (ERDF)Funder: European Research Council (ERC)Funder: ERCFunder: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLCFunder: MIURFunder: Italian MinistryFunder: the Cardiff University, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilFunder: JST Mirai ProgramFunder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)Funder: A*STARFunder: JSTFunder: PRESTOFunder: Aerospace ProgrammeFunder: EBFunder: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and TechnologyFunder: Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD)Funder: Sandia, LLCFunder: the Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy SciencesFunder: United States GovernmentFunder: Honeywell International Inc.Funder: The Leverhulme TrustFunder: Royal Academy of Engineering; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000287Funder: Office of the Chief Science Adviser for National SecurityFunder: Henry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceFunder: Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Los AngelesFunder: CRESTFunder: Beijing Forestry University; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100012138Funder: Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)Funder: the Australian Research Council, QUTFunder: Center for Hierarchical Materials DesignFunder: Austrian Christian Doppler Laboratory for ThermoelectricityFunder: HBIS-UQ Innovation Centre for Sustainable SteelAmbient energy harvesting has great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address growing environmental challenges. Converting waste energy from energy-intensive processes and systems (e.g. combustion engines and furnaces) is crucial to reducing their environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions. Compact energy harvesters will also be key to powering the exponentially growing smart devices ecosystem that is part of the Internet of Things, thus enabling futuristic applications that can improve our quality of life (e.g. smart homes, smart cities, smart manufacturing, and smart healthcare). To achieve these goals, innovative materials are needed to efficiently convert ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms, such as the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency wireless power transfer. By bringing together the perspectives of experts in various types of energy harvesting materials, this Roadmap provides extensive insights into recent advances and present challenges in the field. Additionally, the Roadmap analyses the key performance metrics of these technologies in relation to their ultimate energy conversion limits. Building on these insights, the Roadmap outlines promising directions for future research to fully harness the potential of energy harvesting materials for green energy anytime, anywhere

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

Abstract Ambient energy harvesting has great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address growing environmental challenges. Converting waste energy from energy-intensive processes and systems (e.g. combustion engines and furnaces) is crucial to reducing their environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions. Compact energy harvesters will also be key to powering the exponentially growing smart devices ecosystem that is part of the Internet of Things, thus enabling futuristic applications that can improve our quality of life (e.g. smart homes, smart cities, smart manufacturing, and smart healthcare). To achieve these goals, innovative materials are needed to efficiently convert ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms, such as the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency wireless power transfer. By bringing together the perspectives of experts in various types of energy harvesting materials, this Roadmap provides extensive insights into recent advances and present challenges in the field. Additionally, the Roadmap analyses the key performance metrics of these technologies in relation to their ultimate energy conversion limits. Building on these insights, the Roadmap outlines promising directions for future research to fully harness the potential of energy harvesting materials for green energy anytime, anywhere