Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Synthesis And Characterization Of A Porphyrin Oligomer As A Potential Antenna For Light Harvesting Solar Cells, Tristan Timothy Jenkins

Dissertations and Theses

Mankind's attempts to harvest the sun have resulted in photocells with about 15% overall energy conversion efficiency. The best of these cells consist of a light-sensitive dye attached to a semiconductor. Absorbed light energy is transferred to the semiconductor via the delivery of an excited electron from the dye. Dye electrons are replenished with a redox solution, coupling the dye to the counter electrode.

This research was the beginning of an exploration into some potential improvements in the cell. First of all, the redox solution is a corrosive liquid, and leaks present a problem. A porphyrin oligomer with a TCPP …