TODAY
Center for Excitonics Seminar Series
Thursday, September 27, 2012
RLE Conference Room - 36-428
3:00 - 4:00pm
SOLUTION-PROCESSED SOLAR CELLS USING COLLOIDAL QUANTUM DOTS
TED SARGENT - University of Toronto, Canada
Abstract:
Solution-processed photovoltaics offer a cost-effective path to harvesting the abundant
resource that is solar energy. The organic and polymer semiconductors at the heart of
these devices generally absorb visible light; however, half of the Sun's power
reaching the Earth's surface lies in the infrared.
Solution-processed solar cells that harvest wavelengths beyond 1 μm were first reported in
2005, and were based on the application of quantum-size-effect-tuned infrared-bandgap
colloidal quantum dots. Since then, we have reported externally-certified solar power
conversion efficiencies exceeding 7%. Recent advances of interest include
all-quantum-tuned tandem solar cells; and the emergence of all-inorganic colloidal quantum
dot materials that use halide anions, instead of conventional organic ligands, for
passivation.
I will summarize advances in the materials chemistry, fabrication, physical understanding,
and performance-oriented engineering of colloidal quantum dot solar cells and light
sensors.
Bio
Ted Sargent received the B.Sc.Eng. (Engineering Physics) from Queen's University in
1995 and the Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Photonics) from the University
of Toronto in 1998. He holds the rank of Professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto, where he holds the
Canada Research Chair in Nanotechnology. His book The Dance of Molecules: How
Nanotechnology is Changing Our Lives (Penguin) was published in Canada and the United
States in 2005 and has been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, and Arabic.
He is founder and CTO of InVisage Technologies,
Inc<http://www.invisageinc.com/Default.aspx>px>. He is a Fellow of the AAAS
"...for distinguished contributions to the development of solar cells and light
sensors based on solution-processed semiconductors." He is a Fellow of the IEEE
"... for contributions to colloidal quantum dot optoelectronic devices."