Solar Cell Catalyst for transparent DSSCs

This catalyst offers an alternative to ruthenium based catalysts used on dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) technology. These catalysts show promise in providing greater energy conversion, as well as the potential for new applications such as transparent solar cells that can be used anywhere clear glass is used.

Details: Dr. Louis Barriault of the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Catalysis Research and Innovation developed this family of dimeric gold catalysts, and demonstrated a current in a small DSSC set up. DSSC is a next generation solar cell technology that has generated interest among established photo-voltaic companies and the investment community. It is available on the market for small scale applications, with projects underway to move it into large solar farm applications, as well as building integrated photovoltaic systems where the construction material has power generating capabilities. Many groups are improving various aspects of DSSC technology with the hopes of bringing them to a wider market. By using our catalyst technology in a DSSC, we expect manufacturers to see the following benefits:

• Low cost raw materials used and the strong reducing potential of the catalyst enables to cleave carbon-halogen bond such as primary alkyl bromides, aryl bromides and aryl iodides or other bonds with higher reduction potential may also be possible with optimisation.

• Environmentally friendly and safe compounds, including for radical polymerization.

   

• Diverse applications as simple reactions using low catalyst loading and a uv light source (sunlight) using regular Pyrex flasks are possible, and including direct coupling of aryls, a key building block in pharmaceuticals.

   

• Production scale potential in flow chemistry systems.

   

• Potential for energy production demonstrated for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC).