Ricky Dunbar

Investigating the functionality of solar cells that feature novel nanostructures, in the group of Prof. Schmidt-Mende.

The efficiency of solar cells can be improved by increasing the amount of solar energy absorbed by the semiconductor layer. For organic solar cells however, it is generally preferable to use only thin layers ( < 100 nanometres wide) of semiconductor material. In this project, novel nanostructures are being developed for use in organic/hybrid solar cells. These structures will be designed to both increase the absorption of solar energy and to assist free charge carrier production. The light absorbing effectiveness of these nanostructures will be simulated numerically, and the optimised structures will be constructed and then characterised using the instruments here in the laboratory.