FotoTransfer aims to study, analyse and understand the charge transfer processes that take place at the heterojunctions (interfaces) between small organic molecules and semiconductor nanocrystals that are used in solar cells with efficiencies close to 20%. The project targets to rationalize the solar cell efficiency with the charge recombination (carrier losses) at the different solar cell interfaces.
FotoTransfer will use solar cells based on hybrid perovskites as photoactive material, combining solution processing and high vacuum techniques. To complete our objectives, the project has enrolled a multidisciplinary research team with previous experience on the fabrication of photovoltaic devices based on small organic molecules, the measurements and analysis of charge transfer processes in solar cells and the synthesis and characterization of perovskites. This project represents a challenge with a great deal of fundamental research that implies: (a) synthesis of semiconductor materials, (b) fabrication and assessment of hybrid solar cells, and (c) the study of the charge transfer processes under illumination conditions. The reason, for the importance of the understanding of the charge transfer processes, focusses on the fact that these processes are the ones responsible for the final light to energy conversion efficiency in the solar cells. Thus, to analyse and to understand, which process is the bottle neck that hamper these solar cells to reach their maximum theoretical efficiency is paramount.