Excitonic Solar cells

Excitonic solar cells are devices that produce electricity from the sun's energy through the creation and subsequent dissociation of an exciton. The way in which they work is similar to natural photosynthesis.

Click here for a 6 minute video where, with Petra Cameron and Aron Walsh, I describe the need for research into solar cells, especially those using novel technologies

Click here for a 13 minute video on how policy can influence climate change where near the start of the video I describe the renewable energy research activities at the University of Bath

What types are there?

There are several different types of excitonic solar cells and in each, the light-active component and other cell materials are different.

• organic photovoltaics
  All organic solar cells consist of layers and/or blends of organic materials. Organic Photovoltaic Cell, OPV
  
  
• Hybrid solar cell These solar cells consist of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials.
  A widely studied example is the Dye-sensitized solar cell
  
  Dye-sensitized solar cell made by Petra Cameron's group
  Dye-sensitized solar cell operation
  

Useful Links

The Solar Spark solar power education website

Organic Devices

We're all taught at school that plastic is an insulator, but certain polymers do conduct electricity. Unlike silicon-based electronics, organic electronics are relatively low performance but cheap and flexible. And when they conduct, they sometimes give off light, used in displays, or convert light to current used in photovoltaics.

What devices are there?

• Organic Field Effect Transistors used in smart packaging, brand protection, security, smartcards, distribution tagging and Radio Frequency Identification Devices, interactive media, disposable electronics, and (flexible) display backplanes.
  
• Display Devices Incorporation of flexible electronics in textiles can be used in phototherapy,
  
  clothing for the public services.
  
• Organic devices are being developed that can restore or replace functions of the human body through managing the interface between electronic devices and cells, tissues and organs.
  
  At the University of Bath, I work closely with the Molecular Optolectronics group headed by Dr Enrico Da Como.
  
  Animations made by the University of Bath showing their applications can be seen here

Useful Links

IDTechEx Printed electronics news

OLED-Info OLED TVs, displays and lighting