Application of nanostructured materials for molecular devices

Abstract

This internship aims to complement the studies on the development of optoelectronic devices for energy conversion, granted by FAPESP (2014/04903-8). During this internship, the knowledge on DSCs will be extended for Dye Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cells (DSPECs) and the main benefits will be the acquaintance with new techniques not available in our laboratory and the experience in a group with recognized leadership and scopes in a wide area of chemistry. DSPECs will be fabricated using thin films of nanostructured semiconductor oxides, in special, nano-compact films and novel microsphere layers, aiming at higher conversion efficiencies and/or better stabilities. The devices will be analyzed by time-resolved measurements in order to evaluate injection and intra-assembly catalyst electron transfer activation and their efficiencies will be assessed by incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) spectra, photocurrent measurements and electrochemical impedance spectra.Novel Ir(III) complexes will also be synthesized and their photophysics/photochemistry, as well as Re(I) complexes, will be investigated by time-resolved techniques in order to analyze their excited state dynamics and possible application in energy conversion devices. (AU)