Output details

Excitation energy transfer rate from langmuir blodgett (LB) dye monolayers to silicon: effect of aggregate formation

Significance of output:

A low optical absorption of crystalline silicon is the principal reason for the high cost of solar cells today. A promising way to enhance the photoexcitation rate of silicon is via the near-field interaction with molecules or nanostructures deposited on the surface. Building on work carried out within EPSRC Supergen PV21 this paper represents a direct evidence of energy transfer between dye molecules and silicon. The results demonstrate the potential of this process to enhance the optical absorption of crystalline silicon by two orders of magnitude, leading to a dramatic reduction in the material usage solar cell manufacture.