Finalist EPFL doctorate Award 2015 - Julian Burschka
© 2015 EPFL
Special distinction from the selection committee to Julian Burschka for his thesis "High performance solid-state mesoscopic solar cells". Thesis n° 6006 (2013). Thesis director: Prof. M. Graetzel
One of the most prominent strategies to utilize solar power is the direct conversion of solar energy into electricity using photovoltaic devices. Mesoscopic solar cells have evolved as viable contenders to the conventional silicon-based photovoltaic technology. In his thesis, Julian presents three different approaches that contribute to the design of high-performance solid-state mesoscopic solar cells.
Firstly, the author developed a new class of Co(III) complexes as solution-processable p-type dopants for triarylamine-based hole-conductors. The use of such dopants in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSCs) greatly improved their performance and stability.
Secondly, he investigated a series of new molecular hole-transporters based on the triarylamine-substituted 9,9’-spirobifluorene core that were designed as potential replacements for the commonly employed spiro-MeOTAD in ssDSCs.
Thirdly, Julian pioneered a new route to realize functional nanocomposites of a mesoporous metal oxide and the organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite pigment CH3NH3PbI3 that are very efficient in converting solar energy into electricity. Notably, this work was published in the prestigious journal Nature - a contribution that has been cited over 1500 times within less than three years.
By following three different strategies, Julian was able to set important milestones for the design of third-generation photovoltaic cells that hopefully one day can compete with the conventional silicon-based solar cell technology.
Figure: "Illustration that shows the insertion of methylammonium iodide into a layered lead iodide structure to form the perovskite pigment CH3NH3PbI3." (Please note that the numbers in CH3NH3PbI3 should be subscript).
