Direct observation of exciton dissociation and charge injection: The first-step in solar energy conversion technologies

Biswas, Somnath

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/104246 Copy

Description

Title

Direct observation of exciton dissociation and charge injection: The first-step in solar energy conversion technologies

Author(s)

Biswas, Somnath

Contributor(s)

• Baker, Robert
• Fugate, Elizabeth A.
• Londo, Stephen
• Husek, Jakub

Issue Date

2019-06-18

Keyword(s)

High-harmonic generation and XUV spectroscopy

Abstract

Understanding the mechanism of interfacial hole transfer and the chemical nature of the hole acceptor state in NiO based solar materials are important for the rational design of devices with improved efficiency. NiO is widely utilized as a hole transport layer in solar energy devices. However, due to its complex electronic structure, the chemical nature of the hole acceptor state has remained an open question, despite the fact that hole localization in NiO significantly influences device efficiency. To comment on this, we present results of ultrafast charge carrier dynamics in a NiO based model heterojunction ({\ce{Fe2O3}}/NiO) using extreme ultraviolet reflection-absorption (XUV-RA) spectroscopy. Element specific XUV-RA demonstrates the formation of transient Ni$^{3+}$ within a few ps following selective photoexcition of the underlying Fe$_2$O$_3$ substrate. This indicates that fast hole transfer in this system occurs to NiO valence band states composed of significant Ni $3d$ character. Additionally, we show that this hole injection process proceeds via a two-step sequential mechanism where fast field driven exciton dissociation occurs in Fe$_2$O$_3$ in 680 $\pm$ 60 fs, followed by subsequent hole injection to NiO in 9.2 $\pm$ 2.9 ps. These results reveal the chemical nature of the hole acceptor state in widely used NiO hole transport layers and provides a direct observation of exciton dissociation and interfacial hole transfer in this system.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/104246

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2019.TK08

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Somnath Biswas

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