Organic Functionalized Carbon Nanostructures for Solar Energy Conversion.

Luca Lazzarin,Mariacecilia Pasini,Enzo Menna

doi:10.3390/molecules26175286

Abstract

This review presents an overview of the use of organic functionalized carbon nanostructures (CNSs) in solar energy conversion schemes. Our attention was focused in particular on the contribution of organic chemistry to the development of new hybrid materials that find application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), and perovskite solar cells (PSCs), as well as in photocatalytic fuel production, focusing in particular on the most recent literature. The request for new materials able to accompany the green energy transition that are abundant, low-cost, low-toxicity, and made from renewable sources has further increased the interest in CNSs that meet all these requirements. The inclusion of an organic molecule, thanks to both covalent and non-covalent interactions, in a CNS leads to the development of a completely new hybrid material able of combining and improving the properties of both starting materials. In addition to the numerical data, which unequivocally state the positive effect of the new hybrid material, we hope that these examples can inspire further research in the field of photoactive materials from an organic point of view.

Highlights

Research on organic photovoltaics (OPVs) exploded at the beginning of the millennium thanks to the use of fullerene derivatives as electron acceptors, coupled with conjugated polymers as donor materials [1,2,3]
This review presents an overview of the use of organic functionalized carbon nanostructures (CNSs) in solar energy conversion schemes
Since the first discovery of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by Grätzel and O’Regan [45], this technology has drawn the interest of scientists from all over the world

Summary

Introduction

Research on organic photovoltaics (OPVs) exploded at the beginning of the millennium thanks to the use of fullerene derivatives as electron acceptors, coupled with conjugated polymers as donor materials [1,2,3]. The evolution of the field of non-conventional or third-generation photovoltaics have introduced new families of devices, such as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), perovskite solar cells (PSCs), and photocatalytic cells, based on different active materials, but sometimes reinventing the role of fullerenes [4]. Organic moieties can modify CNSs to provide or modify fundamental properties for the development of energy-conversion applications, such as light absorption, electron transfer, charge transport, solubility, and interaction with a polymer matrix [14]

Chemistry of Carbon Nanostructures

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Perovskite and Other Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics

Findings

Photocatalytic Fuel Production