Modelling of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Solar cells based on dye-sensitized porous layers  of titanium dioxide  are presently under active investigation as a low-cost alternative to conventional silicon solar cells. Dye-sensitized solar cells operate by photon absorption by a thin layer of dye molecules attached to a film of titanium dioxide layer.  The absorbed photon creates bound electron-hole pairs which are transported to the  titanium dioxide layer, which subsequently transports the electrons to a negative electrode. A major challenge in DSSCs is to achieve maximum electron-hole pair  formation efficiency with minimum recombination. The overall  objective of this project is to examine the factors which influence various quantum processes at the titanium dioxide/dye/electrolyte interfaces   using computer program packages such as CASTEP and DMol3.  The ultimate aim is to seek ways of increasing  the photocurrent conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The student will be provided  opportunities to validate theoretical predictions from this work using the excellent  experimental facilities (SAXS, XPS, XRD,  XRF) available to  ACeSSS (http://www.unisa.edu.au/synchrotron/default.asp)

This project is available to an applicant who is the successful recipient of:
Australian Postgraduate Award ($22,500 per annum) OR
International Postgraduate Research Scholarship ($27,222 per annum)

For further inquiries, please contact:

Dr Thilagam Lohe  
Email: Thilagam.Lohe@unisa.edu.au