Laurie King

Biography

-Nanoparticles (Quantum dots)
-Application to solar cells
 
Research Summary:
 
Overall aims of the project
To prepare and characterise nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor anodes on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO). The electrodes will be sensitized with cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (prepared using the hot injection technique). A comparison between several sensitization methodologies (on both bare and functionalised TiO2 electrodes) will be made with a view to determining optimum electrode functionality. Resultant anodes will be characterised using microscopy, spectroscopy and chemical analysis in combination with photoelectrochemical performances established using a wide range of techniques. The influence of quantum dot size, capping and linking molecule will also be investigated, rationalised and the optimal processing route identified.
Ultimately, in collaboration with two other investigators (Universities of Bristol and Loughborough), the project aim is to incorporate the photoanode prepared and optimised at Imperial into a tandem cell.