New Silicon Based Materials for Efficient, Low Cost Solar Cells
Abstract
The proposed research includes four program areas: I. Investigations into Basic and Applied Chemistry of CycloHexaSilane (Si6H12, CH S), II. Investigations into Low Temperature Routes to Atomic, Diatomic and Triatomic Species (Atom Synthon Chemistry), and, III. Inv estigations into Silicon and Germanium Quantum Dot ChemistryIV. Investigations into Parallel Processing of New Perovskite Materials. This program will be conducted in collaboration with the Dr. Andrew Purdy and Dr. Woojun Yoon of the Naval Research Lab. Each of t he four areas has potential to produce materials that will contribute to lower cost and more efficient solar cells. Program area I w ill build on work at NDSU on CHS, a fruitful source of new discoveries in basic silicon chemistry and applications in solar cells, d irect write technologies, semiconductor applications and biomedical techniques. CHS as a platform to build a variety of silicon nitr ides, oxides and carbides that could function as parts of solar cells are important targets in this program area. Program area II wi ll focus on low temperature generation of hypovalent reactive intermediates of silicon and germanium to allow treatment of these spe cies with temperature sensitive compounds. Production of these highly reactive species typically require temperatures above 700 C wh ich limits the reagents that can react with them. Our goal is to produce reactive forms of silicon and germanium below 250 C. Succes s in this area will impact many aspects of organometallic chemistry. Program area III studies will broaden the methodologies develop ed at NDSU for low temperature generation of thin films of large atom unitary, binary and ternary semiconductors to smaller atom com binations of silicon, germanium, boron and phosphorus. Targets include quantum dots comprised of silicon, silicon and germanium and networked quantum dots. Control of the size of the quantum dots is an important goal of this work. We will also pursue silicon quan tum dots doped with phosphorus, boron and binary semiconductors like tin(II)selenide. Program area IV will develop protocols for pre paring thin films of perovskites usingparallel processing techniques. NDSU has nearly two decades using parallel processing to disco ver and develop new coatings for naval vessels. We are confident that we can extend our skills to perovskites. We plan to refine the processes for optimizing the stoichiometry and consequently, the properties, of perovskites that are showing promise as efficient s olar cells. Because the compositions of perovskites are typically multi-element and the stoichiometries fractional, parallel process ing using modern robotized synthesizers are appropriate.The proposed research will not result in environmental impacts outside the l aboratory. The Principal Investigatorwill comply with environmental statutes and regulations through diligent adherence to such stat utes and regulations as practiced and enforced by the NDSU Safety Office. Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112969
Entities
People
- Philip Boudjouk
Organizations
- North Dakota State University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy