Research projects
- Dye sensitized solar cells
(Celule Solare
Sensibilizate cu Pigmenti)
MEdC-CNCSIS
Grant
A 678/2006
Title:
NANOCRYSTALLINE TiO2 BASED TECHNOLOGY FOR EFFICIENT HYBRID
ORGANIC-INORGANIC DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS
Team: Mihai Girtu (principal investigator), V. Ciupina, P. Petculescu, I.
Popovici, I. Nita, O. Robu, L. Petcu, G. Prodan, S. Tasu, D. Sopu, A. Damian, G.
Damache
The official CNCSIS project page can
be found
here (search by the last name of the PI).
Goals:
Harvesting energy directly from sunlight using photovoltaic
technology is increasingly recognized as an essential component of future global
energy production. The finite supply of fossil fuel sources and the detrimental
long-term effects of CO2 and other emissions into our atmosphere underscore the
urgency of developing renewable energy resources. This proposal has four main
objects. The main scientific goal is to obtain and characterize efficient
light-weight dye-sensitized mesoscopic heterojunction solar cells using
nanocrystalline TiO2 based technologies. We will adopt a cross-disciplinary
approach where physics, chemistry and electronics are combined to develop and
improve novel device designs and tailor dye molecules, the electrolyte (or
organic hole conductor) for such hybrid photovoltaic systems. The long-term goal
is to accomplish a transition from basic research to application by bringing
promising technology candidates into the advanced technology development stage
and subsequently transferring them to industry. The other three objectives are
correlated with and complementary to the first: A second goal is to strengthen
the ties with our international partner with whom we want to develop
technological know-how in the field of nanoscale photovoltaic technologies. The
third objective is to train young researchers and students in master’s and
doctoral academic programs and to coagulate an interdisciplinary research team
able to perform high level research and to integrate into excellence research
networks at national and European level. Finally, the last aim is to expand the
research infrastructure of the group, again with the purpose to raise at the
level of excellence in research and increase the impact and visibility within
the excellence research networks.
