Sensitizers Immobilized on Semiconducting Electrodes for Light Energy Conversion

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H03898
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 32:Physical chemistry, functional solid state chemistry, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: IMAHORI Hiroshi 京都大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (90243261)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 人工光合成 / 色素増感太陽電池 / ポルフィリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Artificial photosynthesis is a research field focusing on material conversion by visible light, but the performance is still poor. In this project we aimed to mimic photosynthetic processes artificially and elucidate the underlying mechanism toward efficient energy conversion. We developed photoelectrochemical cells with a semiconducting electrode modified with water oxidation catalysts and molecular sensitizers with visible light-harvesting and high oxidation ability. A remarkably high power conversion efficiency was also achieved by dye-sensitized solar cells with push-pull type fused porphyrins.

Free Research Field

有機化学、光化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

色素増感太陽電池においては、新規な分子設計で光増感色素を合成し、現在知られている最も性能の高い色素を上回る太陽電池性能を達成できたことは大きな進展である。また、人工光合成に関しては、可視光水分解の機構解明に取り組むための評価系構築原理を明らかにできた。以上の研究成果は、今後の高効率太陽エネルギー変換に向けて重要な基礎的知見となりうる。