Regenerable photovoltaic devices with a hydrogel-embedded microvascular network.

ABSTRACT: Light-driven degradation of photoactive molecules could be one of the major obstacles to stable long term operation of organic dye-based solar light harvesting devices. One solution to this problem may be mimicking the regeneration functionality of a plant leaf. We report an organic dye photovoltaic system that has been endowed with such microfluidic regeneration functionality. A hydrogel medium with embedded channels allows rapid and uniform supply of photoactive reagents by a convection-diffusion mechanism. A washing-activation cycle enables reliable replacement of the organic component in a dye-sensitized photovoltaic system. Repetitive restoration of photovoltaic performance after intensive device degradation is demonstrated.

SUBMITTER: Koo HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3733051 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature