University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Graphene-Chlorophyll Heterostructures for Light Harvesting Photovoltaics

Datye, Isha

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Description

Title
Graphene-Chlorophyll Heterostructures for Light Harvesting Photovoltaics
Author(s)
Datye, Isha
Contributor(s)
Lyding, Joseph W.
Issue Date
2014-05
Keyword(s)
  • Graphene
  • Chlorophyll
  • Photovoltaic Cell
Abstract
Graphene, an atomically thin, two-dimensional honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms, has the potential for use in optoelectronic devices due to its high conductivity, mobility, and optical transparency. Although it lacks a band-gap and has low absorption, graphene can be coupled to other light-absorbing materials to effectively transfer electrons. Chlorophyll, the fundamental biomolecule in photosynthesis, is a stable and effective light-absorber. In this thesis, we present the fabrication of a photovoltaic cell using graphene and chlorophyll, which serves as the light-absorbing layer. Electron-hole pairs generated in the chlorophyll layer are separated and transferred to the adjacent graphene layers due to the difference in their work functions, leading to the accumulation of carriers that can produce a photocurrent in the device. We compare the current through graphene devices to graphene-chlorophyll devices to determine the change in the charge neutrality point. We demonstrate the functionalization of graphene with chlorophyll and present methods for the fabrication of hybrid graphene-chlorophyll heterostructures.
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/54546

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