Spectroscopic methods for the study of artificial photosynthesis

Abstract

The insatiable hunger for energy drives Western society to the limits of consumption of classical energy sources like fossil fuels. Undesired side effects of the use of these fuels are starting to rule over its benefits. The search for alternative energy harvesting techniques is of the greatest interest to find sustainable ways to support our way of living today. One of these branches of this extensive research domain is the research in organic solar cells. Until now a maximal efficiency with organic solar cells of 8% is reached. In order to improve these solar cells, a fundamental understanding of the working principle and its limits is necessary. In this thesis, a combination of two polymers, PFB and F8BT, is used. This polymer combination was investigated using morphological (AFM), optical (UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy) and electrical techniques (IV-characterization and photocurrent measurements). All these techniques are used in order to search for relations between morphol