TMS will be used to discover the design rules for
reverse-engineering building blocks capable of
self-assembling into target structures.
SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES
Presently, there exist many scientific challenges
that should be addressed before the ultimate goal
can be achieved. Here, inexpensive and simple
self-assembly techniques need to be developed for
the fabrication of efficient, large-area, low-cost
solar cells. The thermodynamic and kinetic
principles for integration and self-assembly of
different materials should be exploited. The
principles of self-assembly to deposit materials
(e.g., low-dimensional nanostructures, organic
heterostructures, nanocomposites) onto rigid and
flexible substrates should be investigated. The
science of manipulating interfacial structures and properties, and processing functional materials
and structures to optimize optical absorption throughout the solar spectrum, exciton formation
and migration towards the proper interface, charge separation, transport, and collection should be
established.
POTENTIAL IMPACT
Ultimately, these efforts would lead to revolutionary multi-functional systems that are capable of
light-harvesting, charge separation, molecular transport, fuel production, and chemical
separation. This research direction impacts not only the potential efficiency of the solar cell
construction, but also the quality. The objective of providing control over morphology and
assembly directly impacts a wide range of length scales that can lead to defect-free, high-quality
solar photon conversion devices that can be readily produced on a large scale.
REFERENCES
S. Glotzer, University of Michigan, personal communication.
F.X. Redl, K.-S. Cho, C.B. Murray, and S. O'Brien, “Three-dimensional Binary Superlattices of
Magnetic Nanocrystals and Semiconductor Quantum Dots,” Nature 423 , 968 (2003).
S. Stupp, Northwestern University, personal communication.
Figure 65 Theoretical simulation for
nanorod self-organization into smectic phase
(Source: S. Glotzer, University of Michigan,
unpublished)